EY Names Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Award Finalist to Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing President & CEO
Tom Ross among 35th class of entrepreneurs transforming Michigan, Northwest Ohio and beyond
Grand Rapids, Mich. – July 1, 2021 – Tom Ross, president and CEO of Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (“GRAM”), a leading injectable contract development and manufacturing organization (“CDMO”), was named a finalist for Ernst & Young LLP (EY US)’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award.
Ross was recognized for outstanding achievements in entrepreneurial leadership, societal impact and building a values-based company. Originality, innovation, and courage to lead his team in the fight against a pandemic are among Tom’s successes that have lead GRAM through explosive growth, with no end in sight. Under Ross’ leadership, GRAM has grown from 25 employees and one manufacturing facility into a leading industry player with 350+ employees and six facilities, all in Grand Rapids.
“Grand Rapids is proud to be home of top medical institutions, universities and organizations, and Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing is one of these progressive companies that forged the path for our City in becoming a prominent life sciences hub,” said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. “Tom is an authentic and exceptional leader who has created a community-focused culture at GRAM and is a true gift to our City.”
In the past year, GRAM has achieved several milestones to meet growing demand for fill and finish services, including:
- Opening a new 60,000+ square foot large-scale fill/finish facility ahead of schedule, which was recently recognized as a 2021 Facility of the Year Award winner by the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE).
- Supporting Operation Warp Speed to expand fill/finish capacity for manufacturing and distributing vaccines and therapeutics related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Supporting the manufacture of Johnson & Johnson’s SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
- Investing in additional advanced equipment and a new, 100,000+ sq. ft. finishing facility to increase future capacity.
“In an industry where reputation is everything, Tom has set the tone for GRAM to be a trusted CDMO, highly focused on innovation and exceeding high standards for quality and service,” said Nick Bykerk, Vice President of Finance. “In addition to the many business achievements over his eight years as CEO, Tom has built a truly unique company culture – at GRAM there is a close-knit, family atmosphere that translates into a collaborative and supportive environment for customers and employees alike.”
As one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies, the 35th annual Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors unstoppable business leaders whose ambition, ingenuity and courage in the face of adversity help catapult us from the now to next and beyond. Ross was selected by a panel of independent judges, and award winners will be announced during a special virtual celebration on Thursday, August 5 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
About Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, Inc.
Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, Inc. (“GRAM”), a leading parenteral contract development and manufacturing organization, delivers customized solutions to meet clients’ fill and finish needs from development through commercialization. With capabilities for biologics, small molecules and vaccines, GRAM’s advanced technology and nimble staff supports pharmaceutical development and cGMP manufacturing, analytical testing, and regulatory filing.
Follow GRAM on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title. ey.com/us/eoy