Craig Frohock of Dayco, Inc 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 Craig Frohock among 34 finalists representing 31 companies based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.
“Being named a finalist for the Entrepreneur of The Year® 2026 Michigan and Northwest Ohio award is a great honor. For me, this recognition reflects not only a personal journey, but above all the passion, commitment, and purpose that drive our company every day. Our mission has always been to deliver innovative products and services to the market that move the world forward – creating long‑term value through innovation, integrity, and strong partnerships, and this distinction reinforces our belief that doing business the right way truly matters. I am deeply grateful to our customers, partners, and all our stakeholders for their continued trust, as well as to the Dayco team, whose dedication and entrepreneurial spirit make achievements like this possible”.
Founded in 1905, Dayco, Inc. is a global leader in the research, design, manufacture, and distribution of essential engine drive systems and aftermarket solutions for automotive, truck, construction, agriculture, and industrial applications. With more than 120 years of engineering heritage, Dayco has built a strong reputation for delivering reliable, efficient, and high‑performance drive systems that help customers worldwide meet the most demanding application requirements.
Deep technical expertise and a continuous commitment to innovation enable the company to deliver advanced system solutions tailored to the evolving needs of global markets.
Today, Dayco operates in more than 30 locations across 20 countries and employs over 1,900 associates worldwide.
Under CEO Craig Frohock’s leadership, the company has achieved key milestones by reorganizing its operations to focus on the core aftermarket and belt business to accelerate growth in both the Aftermarket and OE markets.
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.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA, SAP and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In Michigan and Northwest Ohio, sponsors also include regional Gold sponsor Full View Productions and regional Silver sponsors KLA Laboratories Inc., P.I.E. Management L.L.C., Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications, Varnum LLP and ADP.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year® has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 80 countries and territories globally.
The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum® in November where national finalists and award winners are announced. The national overall winner represents the US at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.
About EY
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About Dayco
Dayco is a global leader in the research, design, manufacture, and distribution of essential engine drive systems and aftermarket solutions for automotive, truck, construction, agriculture, and industrial applications.
With more than 120 years of engineering heritage, Dayco has built a reputation for delivering reliable, efficient, and high‑performance drive systems that support customers around the world in meeting the most 0demanding application requirements. Our deep technical expertise and continuous commitment to innovation enable us to provide advanced system solutions tailored to the evolving needs of global markets.
Dayco’s world‑class distribution network supplies the aftermarket with a comprehensive offering of kits and components designed to meet the specific needs of each local market. This capability is strengthened by a dedicated global team that acts with ownership, respects one another, and continuously learns to support our customers with excellence. Our mission is to deliver innovative products and services to the market that move the world forward, always.
Today, Dayco operates more than 30 locations in 20 countries and employs over 1,900 associates worldwide.
