Kevin Lewis, president of Lenexa, Kansas-based Henderson Companies, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Heartland Award by Ernst & Young LLP (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 Lewis among 28 finalists based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.
“I’m humbled to be selected by EY as part of a cohort of some of the most accomplished and respected leaders across the Midwest; an achievement that ranks among the top highlights of my career,” said Lewis. “This recognition wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of Henderson employees nationwide, as well as the strong collaboration and trusted partnerships we share with our clients. It’s an honor that belongs as much to them as it does to me.”
Henderson Companies is the 100% employee-owned parent company of Henderson Engineers and Henderson Building Solutions. Henderson Engineers is a national building systems design firm focused on six sectors: business, community, grocery and distribution, health, retail, and venue. Henderson Building Solutions is a national design-build general contractor and commissioning firm whose specialty is complicated infrastructure, commissioning, and program management of construction-related services. Since 2022, under Lewis’s leadership, Henderson Companies has increased revenue by 55% to $289 million, expanded its workforce by 15% to more than 1,150 employees, and grown its national presence from 12 to 15 offices.
Entrepreneur Of The Year honors business leaders like Lewis 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.
