Alta CEO Greenawalt Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Steven Greenawalt, the ambitious chief executive officer of Alta Equipment Company, has been named the 2014 “Entrepreneur of the Year”by the international consulting firm of Ernst & Young.

Greenawalt was recognized as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Michigan and northwest Ohio for his aggressive pattern of acquiring competing and complementary equipment businesses and expanding geographic territory for Alta, which is based in Wixom, Michigan. He is now a finalist for the accounting firms’ national award, which will be announced November 15, according to an Ernst & Young news release.

The award was presented to Greenawalt June 5 during a black tie dinner/awards ceremony at the MGM Grand in Detroit. During his acceptance speech, Greenawalt said he owed his success to his co-workers.

“This award is a tribute to all Alta employees and their hard work and dedication,” Greenawalt said.

During 2013, Alta purchased Evans Equipment of Burton, Michigan, and CLM Forklifts, of Elkhart, Indiana. The previous year the company bought Great Lakes Powerlift, of Warren, Michigan, and Northern Michigan Equipment Company, of Traverse City, Michigan.

Earlier purchases by Alta include Galaxy Lift Inc, of Peotone, Illinois; TEC Material Handling Corp., of Addison, Illinois; United Lift LP, of Bellwood and Lansing, Illinois; Wolverine Tractor and Equipment Company, of Byron Center, Michigan; Aurora Lift Truck Service Inc., of Montgomery, Illinois; Detroit Forklift Inc., of Detroit; Van’s Industrial Equipment Co., of Wyoming, Michigan; Michigan Industrial Equipment Co; also of Wyoming, Michigan; and Mid-States Industries Services, or Eaton Rapids, Michigan.