(L-R) William Phillips, FIB-BOD; Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, FIB–BOD; Dimetrius Hutchison, President, FIB; Kiko Davis-Snoddy, DDLT; Kenneth Kelly, Chairman & CEO, First Independence Bank (center), Dr. Kimberly Kelly, spouse; Alan Young, FIB–BOD; Derron Sanders, FIB-BOD; and Phares Noel, II, FIB–BOD. (Image courtesy of The Wilmore Agency)
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) recently honored Kenneth Kelly, Chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank, as a 2024 Entrepreneur Of The Year® Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award winner. This prestigious recognition celebrates Kelly’s visionary leadership and the tremendous impact he has had in driving innovation and fostering economic growth in the banking industry. As one of the most competitive and respected awards programs, Entrepreneur Of The Year® highlights exceptional entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence in areas such as financial performance, societal impact, and commitment to building a more equitable and sustainable future. Kelly’s leadership at First Independence Bank, one of the nation’s few Black-owned banks, has set a high standard for community empowerment and business success.
Kelly was chosen by a group of esteemed judges comprising past award recipients, top CEOs, and influential business figures. The assessment criteria for the candidates included their capacity to generate lasting value through their entrepreneurial drive, dedication to their mission, and track record of significant growth and impact, among other essential factors.
Kelly expressed his honor at this acknowledgment and emphasized that it underscores the impact of his team’s efforts to bring about positive change.
“This prestigious award honors our shareholders, board of directors, management team, and our customers and for that, I am grateful.”
First Independence Bank is an esteemed financial institution and the seventh-largest Black-owned commercial bank in the United States. With its headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, and its most recent location in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the bank proudly provides a wide range of high-quality banking services.
These include expert account management, personalized loan solutions, mortgage offerings, consumer education programs, and robust investment opportunities. Since its establishment in 1970, First Independence Bank has remained dedicated to serving and empowering the community.
Kelly, as a regional award winner in Michigan and Northwest Ohio, has qualified for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 National Awards. The National Award winners, including the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award, will be revealed in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®.
This forum is known for bringing together high-growth, market-leading companies from across the nation. The recipient of the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award will then advance to the next level to compete for the esteemed World Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award, which will take place in June 2025.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program acknowledges and celebrates a diverse range of business leaders who have demonstrated exceptional ingenuity, courage, and entrepreneurial spirit. This prestigious program recognizes original founders who built their businesses from the ground up, whether through bootstrapping from inception or securing outside capital to fuel growth.
It also honors transformational CEOs who have injected innovation into existing organizations, propelling them toward new heights. Additionally, the program pays tribute to multigenerational family business leaders who have successfully reimagined legacy business models, ensuring their longevity and success for future generations.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized the leadership of entrepreneurs such as:
- Daymond John of FUBU
- Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani, Inc.
- Holly Thaggard and Amanda Baldwin of Supergoop!
- Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company
- James Park of Fitbit
- Jodi Berg of Vitamix
- Andra Rush of The Rush Group
- Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC
- Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation
- Sheila Mikhail of AskBio
- Carla Walker-Miller of Walker-Miller Energy Services
- Natalie King of Dunamis Clean Energy Partners
- Greg Williams of Acrisure
- Raj Vattikuti of Altimetrik
- Bruce Smith of Detroit Manufacturing Systems
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.
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