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 fifth Entrepreneur of the Year awards to three outstanding graduates at a luncheon from 11:15 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Windows on Minnesota on the 50th floor of the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis.

The CSB Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Janet Dryer, former CEO and current chair of the board of HelpSystems. The SJU Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Rick Bauerly, founder and managing partner/CEO of Granite Equity. The CSB/SJU Social Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Krista Carroll, co-founder and CEO of Latitude.

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.

Dryer, a 1983 CSB graduate, joined HelpSystems in 1985 as a sales representative and has held positions of increasing responsibility over the years, including director of sales and marketing and vice president of sales and marketing. She was named president in 1998, succeeding company founder Dick Jacobson. In 2007, she became CEO of the HelpSystems family of companies. She announced her retirement from HelpSystems in December 2014.

Bauerly, a 1991 SJU graduate, is the founder and managing partner/CEO of Granite Equity Partners, a private investment and long-term holding company. Granite Equity was started in 2002 and has since invested in and owns a diversified portfolio of 10 operating companies headquartered in or near Minnesota and employing nearly 1,600 people. Granite Equity will continue to make long-term investments in established Minnesota-based companies as owners transition into retirement.

Carroll, a 2000 CSB graduate, is co-founder and CEO of Latitude, an independent creative agency that believes Purpose Elevates Talent. They make their purpose to elevate people living in extreme poverty around the world. So much so, they invest 50 percent of their profits in organizations that advance this cause. This fuels them to passionately use their talents to best serve their clients as they elevate their brands in the marketplace. Since 2009, they've done that for retail brands like Ann Taylor, Under Armour, Puma and Petco. Thanks to their trust and the hard work of the Latitude teams in Minneapolis and Manhattan, they have invested over $2.1 million to date. This is just the beginning; they're on a mission to transform business into a global force for good.

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 creates social value and economic opportunity by building alliances and creating educational opportunities between and for students, as future entrepreneurs, faculty and experienced entrepreneurs. The center stimulates, supports and expands business and social entrepreneurship by providing services to students, faculty and alumnae/i of CSB and SJU, and as well as to individuals and organizations in central Minnesota.

Tickets are $50 for the event and can be purchased online.