Donald McNeely Center presents entrepreneur awards to outstanding graduates

The Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University will present its second Entrepreneur of the Year awards to outstanding graduates at a luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 6, at Saint Anthony Main Event Center in Minneapolis.

The CSB Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Margaret Murphy, president and chief operating officer of Olson. The SJU Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Cary Musech, founder and managing principal of Tonka Bay Equity Partners. The CSB/SJU Social Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Joe Cavanaugh, founder and CEO of Youth Frontiers.

The CSB and SJU Entrepreneur of the Year awards recognize the achievements of CSB and SJU graduates, respectively, who best exemplify the ideals of entrepreneurship by starting and successfully managing one or more businesses in a way that demonstrates notable entrepreneurial characteristics and achievements while practicing Benedictine values in the workplace and in their lives.

The CSB/SJU Social Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes the achievements and qualities of a CSB or SJU graduate who best exemplifies the ideals of social entrepreneurship by starting and successfully managing one or more ventures that enriches humanity or addresses a social issue in a way that demonstrates notable entrepreneurial characteristics and achievements while practicing Benedictine values in the workplace and in their lives.

Murphy, a 1990 graduate of CSB, was honored because she continues to demonstrate strong leadership, tremendous creativity and capacity to see the future and strive for it. Under her leadership, Olson is a fast growing and dynamic organization in a competitive industry.  It is ranked No. 1 in Minnesota for its advertising revenue by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, continues to be rated as a Best Place to Work, as well as winning awards for best specialty public relations firm. Murphy continues to engage with CSB as a resource for students, bringing on students as interns and always being available to help alumnae seeking career advice.

Musech, a 1980 graduate of SJU, was honored because his business, a private equity firm helping businesses grow and thrive in their communities, has been very successful. He currently enjoys using his years of finance and operating experience to give advice and counsel to CEOs on growing their businesses. He has given back to SJU and peer alumni continuously, has strong intuition about other entrepreneurs and their potential, and demonstrates in work and in his life Benedictine values.

A 1981 graduate of SJU, Cavanaugh was honored for starting Youth Frontiers, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that delivers programs to improve school climate and strengthen student character. With over 25 years of experience working with young people, he is one of the foremost communicators to youth on the topics of respect, integrity, courage and compassion. He has built Youth Frontiers into a strong organization, has a national impact and has now touched the lives of over one million youth. His work is teaching youth values for life, which reflect the Benedictine values he learned in college.

By presenting these awards, the Donald McNeely Center recognizes and celebrates successful alumnae/i entrepreneurs who embody the entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrate the Benedictine values in their professional and personal lives.

The Donald McNeely Center is dedicated to engage, connect and serve CSB and SJU students, faculty, alumnae/i and friends with entrepreneurial spirit, transforming them into leaders of successful value creating enterprises in both not-for-profit and for-profit arenas.