BEVERLY — Neil Byers ran out of time during his latest pitch to the judges for the 2015 James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership Award.
That didn't seem to matter as the owner of Horse Thief Hollow in Beverly advanced in the "Shark Tank"-style competition that began with more than 70 applicants.
Byers, a Beverly resident and native, is now among 12 finalists for the award from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
The winner receives $25,000 and takes home the prize for operating a high-growth small business that "best represents the spirit and values of the late Chicagoland Chairman and business leader James Tyree."
Next, a panel of judges consisting of leadership from Mesirow Financial, the James Tyree Foundation and Chicagoland Chamber will review and score the finalists’ original applications.
The field will narrow to four before a private panel of judges convenes later this month to evaluate the remaining finalists.
The winner will be announced at the Chicagoland Chamber’s annual meeting on June 9 at Navy Pier.
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