Tom Slikkers of Tiara Yachts named Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Michigan and Northwest Ohio finalist by EY US
Holland, Mich., April 24, 2026 – Tom Slikkers, CEO of Tiara Yachts, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Michigan and Northwest Ohio 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 Tom Slikkers among 34 finalists representing 31 companies based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.
"I'm honored to be nominated among the finalists of this special award, and I'm pleased to share this honor with my supportive family and the fantastic team of professionals I work alongside every day," said Tom Slikkers, CEO of Tiara Yachts. "We take immense pride in the products we develop and deliver to our loyal Tiara customers and friends-- their continued support has been the backbone of our company for more than 50 years. Finally, I am grateful to God in Heaven, who continues to guide me through life and all its challenging moments."
Founded in 1974, Tiara Yachts is one of the oldest privately held boat manufacturers in the United States. Under Tom’s leadership, the company has experienced unprecedented growth over the last 10 years with the development of their outboard-powered product portfolio, which now spans three distinct Series: Luxury Sport (LS), Luxury Crossover (LX), and Luxury Express (LE). Starting as a strictly inboard-powered brand, Tiara now proudly boasts multiple award-winning outboard powered models in their portfolio that continues to grow.
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 Michigan and Northwest Ohio finalists represent all industries, including technology, consumer products, manufacturing, finance and more.
Regional award winners will be announced on June 17 during a special celebration in Detroit 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.