By Joseph Cabadas
Dec. 15, 2011
There’s something special about the individuals who go into business for themselves.
Entrepreneurs run the businesses, provide goods and services and employ others as they help keep the economy humming. The late Steve Jobs epitomizes the type of entrepreneur in the vein of the Horatio Alger myth; he was an adopted son who created a computer business empire.
Michigan has many hometown entrepreneurial heroes of its own in the automotive, cereal, construction, pharmaceutical, legal, medical and other fields. Corp! Magazine is proud to honor 28 individuals who have led their businesses toward success with the fourth annual Entrepreneurs of Distinction awards.
The award ceremony was held Dec. 6, 2011, at the MSU Management Education Center in Troy, Mich. Among the honorees who shared some of their views were: Wendy and David Achatz, co-founders of Achatz Handmade Pie Co.; Antoine Dubeauclard, president of Media Genesis, Steve Dickinson and Mike McCowan, co-owners of Amistee Duct Cleaning; Hans Hegge, CEO and co-founder of Text Ripple Inc.; Jeanette Pierce, co-founder and director of Inside Detroit; Sonali Vijayavargiya, founder of Augment Ventures; and Mostansar Virk, president and founder, EPIC Translations.
Other award winners were: Valiena Allison, president of Experi-Metal Inc.; Mark Angott, president of Angott Search Group; Thomas Bloom, president of Bloom Roofing Systems Inc.; Steve Bronzovich, founder of S&A Solutions Inc.; Gayle Chinn, president of Chinn Jewelry; Phil Cooley, co-owner of Slow’s Bar B Q; Emily Doerr, president of Hostel Detroit; David Galbenski, founder and chairman of Lumen Legal; Derek Gentile, president and CEO of EEI Global; Jimmy Hsiao, president of Logic Solutions; Gary and Don Jackson, co-founders of SunTel Services; Ronia Kruse, president and CEO of OpTech; David Maccagnone, CEO of Multi-Bank Securities Inc.; Dr. Jeffrey H. Miller, founder of Miller Vein; Aaron Opalewski, director of business development and founder of S&A Solutions Inc.; Todd Palmer, president of Diversified Industrial Staffing; Juliet Rogers, CEO of Blue Cottage Consulting; and Angela and Emmanuel Williams, founders of DetailXPerts.