LBM exec in the running for "Entrepreneur of the Year"

Ernst & Young's prestigious list of “Entrepreneurs of the Year” includes such notables as the fashion icon Daymond John of FUBU, coffee purveyor Howard Schultz of Starbucks, and exercise facilitator James Park of Fitbit. 

In 2022, the LBM industry has at least one representative in the running for the national and world title: Steve Swinney of Kodiak Building Partners was selected by a panel of judges as the Mountain West Award winner in the annual EY program.

The award recognizes entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

“When we started Kodiak 11 years ago, we wanted to embrace local entrepreneurialism, so we strive to enjoy and celebrate the success of these local operating cultures as opposed to changing them,” said Swinney. “Our whole vision for Kodiak is celebrating building businesses, investing in people, and creating an environment where not only we can succeed, but where our people can also succeed in their communities.”

Kodiak Building Partners was founded in July 2011 with the intent of focusing on acquiring family-run businesses in the building material sales and distribution industries. Since its founding, Kodiak has acquired over 103 locations in 22 states with over 6,000 employees.

As a Mountain West award winner, Swinney will now be considered by the National independent panel of judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 National Awards. National finalists and winners, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2023.