Kari Rihm, president and CEO of Rihm Family Companies, Inc. (RFC), received the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Award in the Upper Midwest. The award recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Rihm was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a gala on June 8 in Minneapolis.
“EY [Ernst & Young] has been recognizing leading entrepreneurs for over three decades,” said Joe McCarney, Entrepreneur Of The Year program director for the Upper Midwest. “The class of winners in 2017 represent new ways of thinking, disruptive business models, and overall dynamism that make this country a great place to do business.”
Owner of one of the oldest Kenworth truck dealers in the world, RFC is celebrating 85 years in business this year. In January, RFC acquired LTX, Inc. and Lawrence Leasing Inc. (now Rihm Leasing), the operator of Lawrence NationaLease (now Rihm NationaLease) – a commercial truck leasing company with 15 locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. In addition, RFC broke ground in May on new facilities in South St. Paul and Coon Rapids, Minnesota, where the family-owned business will sell and service The World’s Best® Kenworth trucks.
“It is an incredible honor to have been selected as a regional winner of this prestigious award, and it’s a reflection of our dedicated employees, loyal customers, honest and committed professional advisers, and the support of loving family members,” said Rihm. “I believe that our company’s focus on strategic growth and investment in the right projects has accelerated our growth, and I am excited to see what the future will bring for Rihm Family Companies.”
Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation, and discipline have driven their companies’ success, transformed their industries, and made a positive impact on their communities.
As an Upper Midwest award winner, Rihm is eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall National Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 18, 2017.
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the U.S. by SAP America, Merrill Corporation, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Upper Midwest, region sponsors include Padilla, Twin Cities Business, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, Salo, Lockton, Pohlad Companies, and ThreeBridge Solutions.
