On May 20, TwinWest honored the entrepreneurial spirit of its membership at the Small Business Awards Luncheon. The event featured a keynote by entrepreneur Susan K. Dunkley, Co-founder of New Horizon Enterprises, Inc. and was emceed by WCCO 4 News' Frank Vascellaro.

Joseph Reilly, Payroll Control Systems, and Thomas Heller, Soulo Communications, were awarded TwinWest's Entrepreneur and Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award titles respectively. Congratulations to Joe, Thomas, and all the finalists (listed below).

Watch the Small Business Awards finalist video:



View the making of the Small Business Awards video:

Please join TwinWest in recognizing these members that served on the Entrepreneur of the Year Taskforce: Scott Plum, chair, TDS; Annette Hruby, Costco; Christy Shore, Quantum Common Wealth; Mike Sowada, VISI Incorporated; Glen Townsend, Quantum Common Wealth; Patricia Thoele, The HR Department LLC.

Also, new this year, a committee focused on identifying members eligible for the awards and encouraging nominees. As a result, we received over 40 nominations. The Small Business Awards Nomination Committee included: Sarah Kaelberer, chair, Business & Estate Advisers, Inc.; Cindy Leines, C.E.L.; Steve McFarland, ORBIT Systems, Inc.; Denny Pottebaum, Quality Resource Group.And finally, thank you to our great event supporters (sponsors listed below) that organized the luncheon event.

The Small Business Luncheon Taskforce included: Tom Sanvick, co-chair, Voyager Bank; Jon Thompson, co-chair, Opportunity Partners; Mike Anderson, QuarterTon Productions; Nathan Brandenburg, Skjold – Barthel, P.A. Caroline Melberg, Melberg Marketing; Eddie Ulrich, Fuzzy Duck Design.

	Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists			Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists
	Barbara Hensley, founder Hope Chest for Breast Cancer			Eric Nelson, owner Eric R. Nelson CPA LLC
	Julie McDonald, owner iVision Human Resources			Pat Bedell, owner Sign-A-Rama - Crystal
	2010 Entrepreneur of the Year Joseph Reilly, president Payroll Control Systems			2010 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Thomas Heller, president Soulo Communications

Photography provided by Sandy Benson Photography.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Gold Sponsor	Gold Sponsor	Gold Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor	Bronze Sponsor	Bronze Sponsor	Bronze Sponsor

Congratulations to the winners of our two prestigious 2009 annual entrepreneur awards:

2009 Entrepreneur of the Year
Mike Sowada, VISI Incorporated






2009 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Heather Morel, Paeonia Floral






TwinWest would also like to recognize these deserving 2009 finalists:

Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists
Howard Walstein, Total Entertainment Productions
Bret Weiss, WSB & Associates, Inc.

Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist
Pam Ricker, Ricker & Associates, Ltd.
Jason Hines, Town & Country Catering