The 16^th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards of Greater Lansing was held on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 from 6-9 pm at the Radisson Hotel Lansing.  Chris Holman, publisher of The Greater Lansing Business Monthly and Paula D. Cunningham, president of Capitol National Bank co-hosted the event before 270 guests.  The award program recognizes business owners and managers who have created and developed prospering companies.

Twelve area business people were recognized for their hard work, determination and their ability to take risk. Category winners included: Andy Kotarba, president and CEO of Dewpoint in the Information Systems category; Mark Sprinkel, president of Showroom Shine in East Lansing for Automotive Services; Steven Curran, president and creative director of Harvest Creative Services in Lansing’s Old Town, for the creative services category; Mike Franco and Chris Goodman, co-founders of Pure Green Lawn and Tree Professionals in the landscape services category; Mitch Tomlinson, president and CEO of Peckham Inc. as the Socially Responsible entrepreneur; Patrick O’Brien, president and CEO of FAITH Catholic magazine in the publishing category; Daniel Warmels, founding partner of the accounting firm of Warmels & Comstock, PLLC for professional services; Patrick Heller, owner of Liberty Coin Service in the retail category, and Joe Ford and Adam Henige, managing partners of Netvantage Marketing in the Emerging Entrepreneurs category.

Special tribute was also paid to the Chairman of the judges panel for the awards program, Mark Hooper, partner with the accounting firm of Andrews, Hooper and Pavlik. PLC.  Hooper was recognized with the Founders Business Advocate award for serving as chairman of the judging panel since the program’s inception in 1994.

“This awards program is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible entrepreneurial minds that we have in our community,” notes Stacy Adado, vice president of sales and marketing for The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, which created the event. “In some cases these recipients have left well paying, secure jobs to begin these ventures, they have made incredible sacrifices, which obviously have paid off. Rewarding them for what they have created is a special honor for us,” Adado adds.

The Entrepreneurial Awards of Greater Lansing are sponsored by: Andrews Hooper & Pavlik, Capitol National Bank, The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Maner Costerisan, MSU Federal Credit Union, Plante & Moran, Radisson Hotel Lansing, Strategic Products and Services, Symbiosis International, TDS Metrocom and WILX TV-10.