Professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP announced finalists for its Entrepreneur of the Year 2004 Awards in Missouri and Kansas.

The St. Louis-based company chose finalists using an independent panel of judges comprising local community and business leaders, Ernst & Young said in a written release. Winners will be announced June 22 at an awards banquet at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Clayton, Mo.

The finalists are:

Jo Anne Gabbert, president and CEO of Adams-Gabbert & Associates Inc. in Lee's Summit. Robert Dobsch, president and CEO of Bank of Franklin County in Washington, Mo. Sean Squire, president of CareFore Medical in Olathe. Robert Baudendistel, Mary Strauss and Harvey Harris, owners; and Richard Baker, president of Fox Associates LLC in St. Louis. David Gale, president of Gale Communities Inc. in Lee's Summit. Richie Graham, president of Impressions Direct in St. Louis. John McHugh, chief operations officer and CFO, and Dennis Schoemehl, president and CEO, of Logistics Management Solutions in St. Louis. Brett Gordon, president, and Patrick McCown, CEO, of McCownGordon Construction LLC in Kansas City. James Saitz, chairman and CEO of Missouri State Bank in St. Louis. Jeffery Fraser, chairman and CEO of NIC Inc. in Olathe. F. Peter Kovac, president and CEO of NKH&W Inc. in Kansas City. Orville Bicknell, chairman and CEO of NPC International Inc. in Pittsburg. Michael Platt, CEO of PlattForm Advertising Inc. in Olathe. Robert Caulk, chairman and CEO of Spectrum Brands in St. Louis. Kurt Huffman, president and CEO of UPAC Insurance Finance in Lenexa. Don Walsworth, president and CEO of Walsworth Publishing Co. Inc. in Marceline, Mo. Young Sexton, president and CEO of WingGate Travel/American Express in Overland Park. Sebastien Heintz, president of Zenith Aircraft Co. in Mexico, Mo.