Donald McNeely Center presents inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year awards

The Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University will present the inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year awards to outstanding graduates. The awards will be presented at a luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Windows on the World on the 50th floor of the IDS tower in Minneapolis.

The CSB Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Judith Sitarz, owner, president and CEO of Painting Perfections, Ltd. The SJU Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Bill Jeatran, CEO of RJF, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company, and Tim Fleming, president of RJF. The CSB/SJU Social Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Denise DeVaan, president and CEO of DeVaan & Associates, Inc.

The CSB and SJU Entrepreneur of the Year awards recognize the achievements of CSB and SJU graduates 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.

Sitarz, a 1972 graduate of CSB, was honored because of her success with two consecutive ventures, she demonstrates the tenacity needed to be entrepreneurial and is active in a field where few women are leaders. Her newest venture - which she started on her own - is fast growing. Painting Perfections, Ltd., is a painting contractor serving new construction, light commercial and residential painting, and also does UV pre-finishing for architectural moldings and doors.  

Jeatran and Fleming, both 1982 graduates of SJU, were honored because they started RJF together, transformed the way people think about insurance services and set new standards for the industry, and have strong and publically stated values that reflect the Benedictine heritage. RJF's risk prevention services include employee benefits, commercial insurance, alternative risk programs, loss control, claim management, human resource consulting and health management. Formerly known as RJF Agencies, Marsh & McLennan Agency acquired the company in 2011. All of RJF's employees and leadership team, including Fleming and Jeatran, have joined Marsh & McLennan.

DeVaan, a 1975 graduate of CSB, was honored in recognition of the work she has done creating a program that helps people who live in poverty become financially literate savers. It is now being piloted in all 50 states. DeVaan & Associates, Inc., is a consulting firm that mobilizes leaders and resources to build strong communities. DeVaan seeks projects that bring nonprofit, business and government sectors together to address economic development, human services and children's environmental health issues. 

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.