Anderson Entrepreneurial Center

Previous Award Winners

Anderson Entrepreneur of the Year Award
sponsored by:

2007 Award Winner: GraniteTops

Kip Cameron is the Founder & CEO
Granite-Tops is a leading natural stone fabricator that has redefined quality, value and service.
In 1995, Kip Cameron launched Granite-Tops with 4 employees. Although Kip has a degree in accounting, when a friend introduced him to the world of granite in the mid nineties, Kip fell in love with its natural beauty and knew he wanted to make it his business.
Since 1995, Granite-Tops’ full time focus has been on crafting natural stone surfaces as its primary business – specializing in kitchen countertops, islands, vanities, fireplaces, shower panels, granite and marble tile.
Today, Granite-Tops is the largest stone fabricator in the upper mid-west and has 3 main facilities in Cold Spring, Plymouth and Albertville. Granite-Tops employs a team of 85 employees with a total economic impact of $3.1 million dollars in payroll annually.

2006 Award Winner: W3i (Freeze.com)

Rob and Ryan Weber launched W3i from their SCSU dorm room in 2000.
The company been profitable since its inception.
They won the MN and the Regional Collegiate Entrepreneur Award in 2000.
In 2005, Rob, Ryan, and Aaron Weber were recipients of the SBA’s “Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.”
In January 2006, Rob Weber, President of W3i, was named a “Minnesota Top 20 Emerging Business Leader” by Twin Cities Business Monthly magazine.
W3i has moved into a 22,000-square-foot Headquarters in Sartell, allowing the company to employ up to 300 in 6 years.
The Weber brothers are strong advocates of the community. W3i donates to multiple charities each year.
W3i sponsors the Minnesota collegiate Entrepreneur Awards.