See photos from BizTimes’ Innovation + Entrepreneurship Forum & Awards

Posted on December 18, 2021 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

BizTimes Media celebrated the successes of startups from across southeastern Wisconsin during its Innovation + Entrepreneurship Forum and Awards program at the Italian Community Center Friday.

At the event, BizTimes recognized Jon Hammes, founder and partner of Milwaukee-based Hammes Co., with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Hammes founded his company in 1991 and has grown it into the nation’s top developer of health care facilities.

Reflecting on his professional journey, Hammes said it takes hard work to build an organization that is seen as innovative.

“They’re not natural activities and they’re a lot of work, a lot of teamwork,” he said. “But when you can execute on these fronts, it allows you to be a leader in your industry as opposed to being obliged to be a follower to the competition.”

Good City Brewing co-founder Dan Katt received the annual BizTimes Media Regional Spirit Award, largely in recognition of the company’s role in filling the Century City 1 building in Milwaukee’s Century City Business Park and working to attract more businesses there.

BizTimes’ Entrepreneurship Award winners included:

Innovation Award winners included:

In addition to the awards, the program included a panel discussion with entrepreneurs Kyle Weatherly, co-founder and CEO of Frontdesk; Roy Dietsch, co-founder and CEO of PartsBadger; and Jackie Hermes, founder and CEO of Accelity. The discussion was moderated by BizTimes editor Andrew Weiland.

1 of 19

BizTimes’ Entrepreneurship Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jon Hammes.

Jon Hammes receives the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jon Hammes of Hammes Co. and Dan Meyer of BizTimes Media.

BizTimes’ Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum featured a panel discussion with Kyle Weatherly, co-founder and CEO of Frontdesk; Roy Dietsch, co-founder and CEO of PartsBadger; and
Jackie Hermes, founder and CEO of Accelity.

Kyle Weatherly, co-founder and CEO of Frontdesk, discussed the burden that founders take on; “You’re constantly paranoid about the competitor environment, the broader economic environment, and … if you’re a good leader, you’re constantly worried about your employees’ (wellbeing).”

Roy Dietsch, co-founder and CEO of PartsBadger, reflected on the region’s startup ecosystem. “We need high-growth companies with innovation at the core of what they do that can spin off other companies.”

Jackie Hermes, founder and CEO of Accelity, said employers need to be more comfortable with their employees leaving to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

BizTimes editor Andrew Weiland moderated the panel discussion with Kyle Weatherly, co-founder and CEO of Frontdesk; Roy Dietsch, co-founder and CEO of PartsBadger; and
Jackie Hermes, founder and CEO of Accelity.

Hug Sleep founder Matt Mundt received a BizTimes Innovation Award.

Ryan Povlick, owner of Scratch Ice Cream, received a BizTimes Entrepreneurship Award.

Renaissant co-founder and executive vice president Patrick McGartland received a BizTimes Innovation Award.

Dr. Indrajit Choudhuri, founder and CEO of MediCardia, received a BizTimes Entrepreneurship Award.

James Kyle, founder CEO of Millennium, received a BizTimes Entrepreneurship Award.

Dan Katt, co-founder of Good City Brewing, received BizTimes’ 2021 Regional Spirit Award.

BizTimes Milwaukee editor Andrew Weiland and Dan Katt of Good City Brewing.

A breakout panel featured Brian Durst, CEO of Tribe 9 Foods LLC; Ryan Sberna, CEO of Eagle Eye Power Solutions LLC; and Scott Reigle and James Wawrzyn, attorneys at Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C.

BizTimes Media’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards were held at the Italian Community Center.