Entrepreneur award finalists cover broad spectrum

If you're looking for old-style companies built by bootstrapping leaders, you'll find them among this year's finalists for the Utah Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

If, on the other hand, you're looking for up-and-coming technology companies, well, you'll find them, too.

A handful of award recipients chosen from among 23 finalists will be honored at this year's annual Entrepreneur of the Year gala at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Grand Ballroom of the Salt Palace convention center. All of the finalists are profiled inside today's Money section.

No matter who takes home the hardware, those who attend the banquet are sure to hear some fascinating stories, according to sixth-year judge Jack Brittain, dean of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

"We're seeing technology's back," Brittain said. "You're seeing some really interesting biotechnology companies are popping up. . . . The other thing that we saw this year — and it's because the economy is coming back — is we're seeing some businesses that are well-established in Utah, and they've been through some tough times, and now business is good again, and so they've kind of emerged in the competition."

Ron Mika, managing director of Sorenson Capital in Lehi, was an Entrepreneur of the Year judge for the first time this year. He said he was impressed by the variety of finalists.

"What really stood out is that some of the companies were kind of brand-name companies, or consumer product companies, but there are many very well-managed businesses that are out of the limelight," Mika said.

"From a personal point of view, it's good to get to know these businesses. It's surprising."

Heidi Huntsman, a partner with Salt Lake's UV Partners and another first-year judge, said she was interested in the stories of both traditional and "not-so-traditional" entrepreneurs.

"It was difficult to really come up with a true definition of what makes one an entrepreneur versus just a businessman or businesswoman," Huntsman said.

"A couple of the most interesting entrepreneurial stories were real back-to-basics stories, like Wing Enterprises and Aero Technologies. . . . They started out as mom-and-pop shops. They're basic manufacturing. They're fundamental tools. There's nothing high-tech about them, nothing fancy. Yet both of these individuals were able to start in their homes. I thought that was pretty interesting."