Prestigious award celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets, revolutionize industries and transform lives
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, June 28, 2024 – Digi International, (NASDAQ: DGII, www.digi.com), a leading global provider of Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity products and services, is proud to announce that CEO and President, Ron Konezny has been named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Heartland Award winner by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US).
Recognized as the preeminent competitive awards program for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies, Entrepreneur Of The Year acknowledges different types of business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. Ron Konezny was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous award winners, leading CEOs and other business leaders. Candidates were evaluated based on their ability to create long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to their purpose and the demonstration of growth and substantial impact, among other key indicators.
"It is an incredible honor to be recognized as the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Heartland Award winner,” commented Konezny. “This accolade is a testament to the collective dedication and innovative mindset at Digi International. As CEO and President, I recognize the value of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit to help drive businesses forward and push boundaries to achieve continuous growth and success. Our commitment to pioneering advancements in IoT technology and customer satisfaction has driven Digi to new heights. Moreover, the hard work of our exceptional team was crucial to Digi becoming a leader in this dynamic space. Together, we will continue to expand the horizons of what is possible — delivering cutting-edge solutions that connect the world in ways we once only imagined."
Konezny’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in transforming Digi International into a leader in the IoT industry. Since the beginning of his tenure, he has expanded Digi’s market share and ventured into new markets — providing a diverse range of connectivity solutions tailored to various industries. His leadership underscores the value of a customer-centric and results-orientated approach, highlighting the importance of leading with positive energy and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. These principles have cultivated a supportive and agile company culture that prioritizes customer engagement and the rapid delivery of innovative solutions. As a testimonial to his entrepreneurial spirit, he was the 2009 winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® award in the Technology category, as CEO of PeopleNet.
As a Heartland award winner, Ron Konezny is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 National Awards. The National Award winners, including the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award in June 2025.
Konezny's strategic vision and dedication to excellence have not only driven Digi’s growth but also brought long-term value creation for a broad group of stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers, government, communities, investors and shareholders. By fostering a philosophy of care, intentionality and innovation, Digi continues to meet and exceed customer needs, solidifying its position as a leader in the IoT industry.
Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs. They receive exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in more than 60 countries — all supported by vast EY resources.
In addition to Entrepreneur Of The Year, EY US supports other entrepreneurs through the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ (Winning Women) program and the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN) to help connect women founders and Black and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs, respectively, with the resources, network and access needed to unlock their full potential.
For more information about Digi International, visit www.digi.com.
About Digi International
Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII) is a leading global provider of IoT connectivity products, services and solutions. It helps companies create next-generation connected products and deploy and manage critical communications infrastructures in demanding environments with high levels of security and reliability. Founded in 1985, Digi has helped customers connect more than 100 million things and counting. For more information, visit www.digi.com.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, Marsh USA, SAP and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Heartland, sponsors also include regional Platinum sponsor, Twin Cities Business; regional Gold sponsor, Padilla; and regional Silver sponsors, Brillect and Robert Half.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year
Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year® has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 80 countries and territories globally.
The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum® in November where National finalists and award winners are announced. The overall National winner represents the US at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.
About EY
EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.
Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.
Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.
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Media Contact:
Peter Ramsay
Global Results Communications
digi@globalresultspr.com
949.307.5908