Earl Santee, Bruce Miller Named Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Heartland Finalists by EY US

Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and uplifting communities. The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations drive economic growth and help shape the future of business.

An independent panel of judges selected Santee and Miller among 28 finalists based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.

“This recognition from EY US is an honor and a reminder of the values that have shaped Populous since its founding,” said Earl Santee, founder and chairman emeritus of Populous. “The firm was founded on a belief in thoughtful design, strong collaboration and a shared commitment to excellence. From our original team of founders to our current leaders and designer professionals, we share this recognition with the many talented individuals who have contributed to our mission over the years.”

Founded more than 40 years ago, global design firm Populous has designed more than 3,500 projects worth over $60 billion across emerging and established markets and has grown to more than 1,600 employees in 35 offices around the world. Under the leadership of Santee and Miller, Populous has grown from $187.8M contract revenue in 2020 to $552.4M contract revenue in 2025.

"Being named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist reflects the mindset our team brings to our company every day. Our global growth has only sharpened our focus on designing the places people love to be together and prioritizing opportunities for our people to grow and excel as design professionals."

Bruce Miller

Global Chairman and CEO

Entrepreneur Of The Year honors business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company, transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory, and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.

This year’s Heartland finalists represent Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri across all industries, including technology, consumer products, manufacturing, finance and more.

Regional award winners will be announced on June 18 during a special celebration in Minneapolis and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. The winners will then be considered by the national judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®, where high-growth CEOs, Fortune 1000 executives and investors converge to shape the future of business.