Kueppers '89 and Richards '78 to Receive Entrepreneur Awards

Brian Kueppers and Br. Paul Richards, OSB, will be honored at the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship's Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 15 at Windows on Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Kueppers will receive the SJU Entrepreneur of the Year award. This award recognizes the achievements of a Johnnie who exemplifies the ideals of entrepreneurship by starting and successfully managing one or more businesses while practicing Benedictine values in the workplace and in his life.
As founder and CEO of Apex Information Technologies, Kueppers has works with some of the largest healthcare organizations in the country and is a pioneer in the industry. He founded Apex in 1995 to focus on solutions and services that enable healthcare providers to improve revenue cycle results and strengthen relationships with patients.

Richards will receive the CSB/SJU Social Entrepreneur of the Year award. This award recognizes the achievements of a Johnnie or Bennie who best exemplifies the ideals of social entrepreneurship by starting and successfully managing one or more ventures that enrich humanity or addressing a social issue in a way that demonstrates entrepreneurial characteristics while practicing Benedictine values in the workplace and in their lives.

Richards joined Saint John's Abbey in 1978 after completing his BA in music and education from Saint John's University. He holds an MA in choral conducting from The University of Iowa. Br. Paul's principal work assignments have included teaching at Saint John's Preparatory School and Saint John's University, serving for nearly 20 years as a faculty resident in the dormitories at Saint John's University, conducting The Saint John's Abbey Schola, and serving the Abbey as subprior and formation director. He founded The St. John's Boys' Choir in 1981 and served as music director for 26 years. He began The Saint John's Abbey Benedictine Volunteer Corps in 2003 and continues as its director.