The Wisconsin Technology Council announced today that it will honor Valerie Daniels-Carter with the Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the Day” award during the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference taking place June 5-6 in Milwaukee.

According to a release, the award celebrates entrepreneurial leaders who have been crucial to Wisconsin’s economic growth and have shown persistence in building their companies.

Daniels-Carter is the president and CEO of V&J Holding Co., the largest female-owned franchise organization in the United States.

“With her work through the V&J family of companies, Dr. Daniels-Carter has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to grow her businesses, to adapt to change and to persevere in all kinds of economic conditions,” Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still said in a statement. “The V&J franchising model offers lessons for entrepreneurs are all types.”

Deb Carey of New Glarus Brewery won the award in 2023.