The 16th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards of Greater Lansing were presented on the evening of March 10 at the Radisson Hotel Lansing. It was an exciting evening for all of us here at the Business Monthly, as this awards program has become one of our most rewarding events over the years. One of the things we are most proud of this year is the formation of the Mid-Michigan Mentor Program.

In collaboration with our local YSG (Young, Smart & Global) group, along with Paul Jaques, internship coordinator for Michigan State University, we have decided to put the vast business experience and knowledge of our former recipients of this awards program over the years to use, helping student entrepreneurs at Michigan State University. Late last month, they met for the first time and will now begin a yearlong mentorship program together.

This event has really grown over the years, and has established itself as one of the top awards programs locally. These events do not happen without the generous support of sponsoring companies. This year those sponsors include:  Andrews Hooper & Pavlik; Capitol National Bank; Maner Costerisan; MSU Federal Credit Union; Plante & Moran; Radisson Hotel Lansing; Strategic Products and Services; Symbiosis International; TDS Metrocom and WILX TV-10. The financial support of companies such as these have allowed this program to grow and flourish.

When you look back over our award recipients from the past 16 years, it is quite an impressive group of people.  They are truly considered some of the most successful entrepreneurs in our community, around the state, and even on a national level.  They have many experiences and much insight that are invaluable to a new start-up entrepreneur.  In addition, it is always our goal to encourage student entrepreneurs that this is a great place to start their business—we want to keep those young, smart and global-thinking people here in the mid-Michigan community.

The crop of recipients for the 2010 Entrepreneurial Awards are no different. They have persevered, they have made sacrifices, they have worked many long days and nights and given up plenty. But it has paid off for them. Mid-Michigan has been a welcoming location for the success of their businesses. This year we feature everything from technology to lawn care to accountants, and many things in between.