This article is compliments of Twin Cities Business:

Eight Minnesota businessmen were named winners of this year’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Upper Midwest.

The global professional services company announced the regional winners at an awards gala on Thursday evening in Minneapolis.

The local winners, along with their companies and the categories in which they won, are:

• M.A. “Mort” Mortenson, M.A. Mortenson Company (Golden Valley)—Lifetime Achievement
• Joe Keeley, College Nannies & Tutors (Wayzata)—Emerging
• John Romans, BioMedix Vascular Solutions (St. Paul)—Technology
• Rollie Benjamin, Abra Auto Body & Glass (Brooklyn Center)—Retail
• Jimmy Visika, ShopJimmy.com (Bloomington)—Distribution
• Peter Taunton, Snap Fitness (Chanhassen)—Consumer Services
• Jerome Ruzicka, Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie)—Health Sciences
• Omar Ansari, Surly Brewing Company (Brooklyn Center)—Consumer Products

The eight Minnesota winners, along with one Wisconsin winner, were chosen from 24 finalists within the region—which includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. Regional winners from across the country will soon vie for national Entrepreneur of the Year awards, which will be announced on November 13 in Palm Springs, California, at a gala hosted by Jay Leno.

In addition to the entrepreneurs who received awards on Thursday, Twin Cities Business Editor and Publisher Jay Novak—who plans to retire later this year—was recognized as the 2010 Supporter of Entrepreneurship. “Jay’s 40-year career has championed Minnesota business and its leaders,” Ernst & Young said in a press release.

Ernst & Young provides assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services. Its annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards program, now in its 24th year, honors those who are building and leading successful, growing, and dynamic businesses. The award aims to encourage entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and to recognize the contributions of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership, and achievement.

The seven winners and 16 finalists from the Upper Midwest will be featured in the August issue of Twin Cities Business, which is a regional sponsor of the awards program.

—Christa Meland
(cmeland@tcbmag.com