Joseph Purnell Wins Mentor of the Year at 2026 Black Business Month Awards

1 articles · Updated · Beloit Daily News · Aug 18

65-year-old Joseph Purnell was named Mentor of the Year by Jumpstart South Central Wisconsin for hiring people who often struggle to find work, including homeless residents and troubled youth.
Can Do Crew Wisconsin, which Purnell started during the COVID-19 pandemic, now handles three to four remodeling jobs a month across Rock County with day labor recruited largely from Beloit.
Four workers were on a Janesville basement-remodel job when Purnell described seeking people who made bad choices but are willing to work hard; one worker had joined that day after being approached at McDonald's.
Dennis Willis, recruited about three years ago while at the Beloit Public Library, said he has worked on more than 10 projects and is using the income to work toward stable housing.
Thursday's award comes at Jumpstart's 2026 Black Business Month event in Beloit, where the nonprofit highlights entrepreneurs across Rock, Green, Jefferson and Walworth counties.