Two Local Businessmen Tapped for 'Entrepreneur of the Year'

The founder of a Burnsville-based pawn empire and the CEO and President of a precast concrete manufacturer in Savage are in the running for the "world’s most prestigious business award" for entrepreneurs. 

Fabcon's Michael LeJeune and Brad Rixmann, leader of Pawn America, are finalists for Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" in the upper Midwest region. The region includes Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The awards program—which is in its 27th year—recognizes "high-growth entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities." Rixmann and LeJeune are two of 29 finalists for this year, selected from 61 nominations by a panel of independent judges.

According to Ernst & Young, the 29 have collectively created almost 4,000 jobs over the past three years, with an aggregate of more than $9.6 billion in revenue during 2012. Each increased their company’s employment by up to 20 percent and grew revenues by 40 percent between 2010 and 2012.

The award winners will be announced at a gala on June 13, 2013, at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center. Regional winners will go on to compete for the distinction at a national level. 

Here is a complete list of this year’s finalists:

• Apex Information Technologies – Brian Kueppers (St. Paul, Minnesota)
• Augeo Marketing – David Kristal (St. Paul, Minnesota)
• Code 42 Software – Matthew Dornquast (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• Coolibar, Inc. – John Barrow (St. Louis Park, Minnesota)
• Fabcon – Michael LeJeune (Savage, Minnesota)
• Foster Group, Inc. – Jerry Foster (West Des Moines, Iowa)
• G&K Services, Inc. – Douglas Milroy (Minnetonka, Minnesota)
• Gardner Builders – Bob Gardner (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• Genova Technologies – Dawn Ainger (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
• Hayneedle Inc. – Doug Nielsen (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Hot Mama – Megan Tamte (Edina, Minnesota)
• Intertech, Inc. – Thomas Salonek (Eagan, Minnesota)
• Involta – Bruce Lehrman (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
• JAMF Software, LLC – Christopher Pearson and Richard Halmstad (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• KLN Family Brands – Kenny Nelson (Perham, Minnesota)
• LightEdge Solutions, Inc. – Jim Masterson (Des Moines, Iowa)
• MBI Energy Services, Inc. – James Arthaud (Belfield, North Dakota)
• Metropolitan Transportation Network, Inc. – Tashitaa Tufaa (Fridley, Minnesota)
• Milk Specialties Global – David Lenzmeier (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
• Omaha Steaks International, Inc. – Bruce Simon (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Pawn America – Brad Rixmann (Burnsville, Minnesota)
• ReconRobotics, Inc. – Alan Bignall (Edina, Minnesota)
• Renters Warehouse – Brenton Hayden (Minnetonka, Minnesota)
• Rock Communications and Colorfx – Jon Troen (Newton, Iowa)
• Spray Control Systems, Inc. – Craig Kruckeberg (Blooming Prairie, Minnesota)
• The Nerdery – Mike Derheim (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• The Scoular Company – Marshall Faith (Omaha, Nebraska)
• Vomela – Thomas Auth (St. Paul, Minnesota)