Ernst & Young LLP has announced that CEO Lynn Perenic of Argent Tape & Label was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award finalist. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed.

Lynn Perenic was selected by a panel of independent judges according to the following criteria – entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact – among other core contributions and attributes. A visionary and a results-producing entrepreneur who brings an instinctive curiosity to every endeavor, Perenic is passionate educator who inspires others to challenge the status quo and reach higher to achieve more. 

As Argent Tape & Label’s president and chief executive officer, her vision and belief in others has transformed the manufacturing company from a $790,000 a year organization into a successful multimillion-dollar enterprise. Nearing the mark of $10 million in annual revenue, Argent is well-positioned for continued growth.

Following 20 years of teaching in Michigan’s Hazel Park School District – where she taught a diverse population of elementary and special education high school students – Perenic understands knowledge, perseverance and a diligent work ethic are the formula for success. 

In 2010, she acquired the ownership stake in Argent Tape and Label near bankruptcy at the time. An eternal optimist who is driven by her belief in people’s potential and her many years of experience as an educator, Perenic committed herself to recovering the company’s profitability and helping it thrive. 

Already possessed of the requisite communication skills, Perenic knew that she needed to fast-track her knowledge of business management and develop an actionable strategy for recovery and success. She enrolled in the Oakland County Venture Forward program, an 11-week intensive program for business executives and top management leaders. The program ultimately nominated her as one of the 50 Businesses to Watch in Michigan. 

Perenic knew that she wanted to create a culture of transparency and connection. Drawing inspiration from such texts as A Stake in the Outcome: Building a Culture of Ownership and The Great Game of Business, she made the choice to implement Open Book Management (OBM) at Argent. She cultivated a professional community that encourages innovation at all levels, welcoming team members and customers alike to become partners in success. 

Perenic herself is a living manifestation of this collaborative management and servant leadership style. She believes in paying it forward, and her spirit of giving has become a hallmark of her dedication to her team and community. She mentors her employees and tutors their children, provides a variety of courses – including English as a second language and financial literacy – at Argent’s facility and supports numerous charitable organizations. 

She has drawn the attention of OBM thought leaders and business leaders alike, winning the Allstar Award for Best of the Best in OBM and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s Women’s Business Enterprise Star Award. Recently, Lynn was elected to the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council board of directors. 

She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Oakland University and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Michigan University. Ever an educator, she leverages each success to help her team, company, community and customers succeed. Lynn and her husband reside in Franklin, Michigan.

The regional finalists will be recognized and winners will be announced at the Michigan and Northwest Ohio awards celebration on June 23, 2022 at One Campus Martius in Detroit. The regional winners will then be considered by the National independent judging panel for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2023. 

In 2015, Argent Tape & Label was featured as a Narrow Web Profile in L&NW.