The Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé Program on Tuesday recognized the success of the program's participants with a celebration event at the Lambeau Field Atrium.

Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy congratulated the entrepreneurs gathered to mark the program's ninth year of pairing established mentor companies with growing protégé companies in the community. This year, the program officially expanded into Milwaukee, as well, matching six pairs of companies in southeastern Wisconsin.

Several companies were also named Most Valuable Mentor, Most Valuable Protégé and Comeback Player of the Year, following their growth and performance during the program. Jim Robinson with Wisconsin Ordnance Works, LTD., Michael Troyer with A Different Perspective and Refilwe Goll with Northwestern Mutual were named MVMs; Nick Calaway with Ahnapee Brewery, Peter Mayer with FoamFit Tools LLC and Kate Hill with Dakonte Product Group, Inc., were named MVPs. Brenda Leopold with World Headquarters and Annette Tipton with Able Access Transportation LLC were named Comeback Players of the Year.

The program matches established mentor companies that can provide technical, managerial, financial or other guidance to protégés seeking to improve their competitive standing. Those partnerships aim to foster business growth, economic development and job creation in Wisconsin. Created in part to match up minority-owned, veteran-owned, or woman-owned businesses with experienced mentor companies, such businesses account for 87 percent of the participating protégé businesses.

In the nine years of the program, more than 250 full and part-time jobs have been created across the 76 protégé companies. Additionally, participants have increased their annual revenue by a combined $62.4 million and acquired more than 4,600 clients.

The partnerships receiving recognition for the ninth session in Northeastern Wisconsin are:

• Michael D. Troyer with A Different Perspective mentored Kate Dillenburg of Bisley Fabrication, based in Gresham.
• Richard Allcox with Allcox & Associates S.C. mentored Camin Potts of Fine Print Graphic Design, based in Waupaca.
• Joe Eggener with BE'S Refreshments mentored Ed Swanson of Tastee Bites, LLC, based in Marinette.
• Brad Charapata with BMO Harris Bank mentored Kim Pigeon-Metzner of KPM Arts Consulting, based in Green Bay.
• Pete Helein with Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin, Inc. mentored Nick Calaway of Ahnapee Brewery, based in Algoma.
• Chari Graham, CPA, mentored Jennifer Berres of Jenstar Yoga & Dance, based in De Pere.
• Dick Hopfensperger with RHJ Business Consulting mentored Scotty Smith of Synergy Sports Performance, based in Hobart.
• Tony Hoslet with Sandler Training Green Bay mentored Damien Dufek of Bay Ridge Plywood & Supply, based in Green Bay.
• Paul Tutskey mentored Peter Mayer of FoamFit Tools, LLC, based in Green Bay.
• Raymond L. Juidici with US Bank, mentored Brenda Leopold of World Headquarters, based in Appleton.
• Jim Robinson with Wisconsin Ordnance Works, LTD., mentored Nathan R. Charles of Crucible Metal Solutions, based in Menasha.
• Renita Robinson with YWCA Greater Green Bay mentored LeKecia Lovett of Encompass Solutions, LLC, based in Milwaukee.

The partnerships receiving recognition for the first session in Southeastern Wisconsin are:

• Bevelyn Johnson with AJA Enterprise, LLC, mentored Carolyn Walker of Great Impressions LLC, based in Milwaukee.
• Lesley Poberezny with ElleSoMar Communications, LLC mentored Michael Rivera of Rivera & Associates, Inc., based in Milwaukee.
• Lorenzo Bell with Ernst & Young, LLP mentored Kate Hill of Dakonte Product Group, Inc., based in Milwaukee.
• David A. Rotter mentored Annette Tipton of Able Access Transportation LLC, based in Milwaukee.
• Quasan Shaw mentored Douglas Kelley of Courier Communications, based in Milwaukee.
• Refilwe Goll with The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company mentored Sammy Mahmood of Superior Equipment & Supply Co., based in St. Francis.