Jandernoa to Receive "Spirit of Michigan" Award at Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition's Gala Awards

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition (AMIC) has announced that its 2011 "Spirit of Michigan" recipient is Mike Jandernoa, founder of Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring and former CEO of Perrigo. Jandernoa will be honored during the AMIC's second annual gala awards on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich.

As CEO, Jandernoa took Perrigo from a $30 million company to a $2.5 billion firm. Most recently he founded Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring, which is dedicated to bringing mentors and mentees together to help businesses stay on track. He currently is a general partner of Bridge Street Capital Fund 1, LP; a director of Fifth Third Bank – West Michigan, a Michigan banking corporation; and a director of Steelcase, Inc., a manufacturer of case good products and furniture systems for the office furniture industry. Jandernoa also serves on the boards of the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor (formerly Life Science Corridor), and Business Leaders for Michigan.

"Mike Jandernoa epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit. He is passionate about and committed to helping entrepreneurs succeed and he has invested his personal time and money to provide the full-circle support they need to grow their businesses," said Doug Rothwell, President & CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan. "Mike has created a mentorship program that has helped numerous entrepreneurs through the challenges of operating in a down economy. He exemplifies everything that the Spirit of Michigan award stands for and is very deserving of this award. It's exciting for the AMIC and the Michigan business and entrepreneurial communities."

The "Spirit of Michigan" award recipient must epitomize the entrepreneurial spirit, have built a business that employs a solid workforce, be a significant contributor to the economic recovery here in Michigan and serve as a mentor within the entrepreneurial community. Last year's recipient was Samuel Valenti, independent chairman of the board of TriMas Corporation.

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is an international business competition offering more than $1 million in cash awards.  Designed to highlight Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity, the competition fuels innovation-based business growth by uncovering the best and brightest new business concepts from local and global entrepreneurs, exposing those opportunities to potential investment capital and fostering their growth within Michigan. The mission is focused on job creation, increased capital and statewide economic and resource development.  The competition is a collaborative effort of the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, the New Economy Initiative, Business Leaders for Michigan, the University Research Corridor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  These groups have aligned their efforts to bolster and advance Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem through a variety of collaborative initiatives, including the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. For more information, visit acceleratemichigan.org. 

SOURCE Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition