Top 50 Fastest Growing Women-Led Companies
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Wonderful, here is the top ten...!
Growing Strong
Top 50: 1-10
Celebrating the growing power of women's businesses, Entrepreneur and the Women Presidents' Organization teamed up to bring you the top 50 fastest-growing women-led companies. Meet our No.1 fastest-growing entrepreneur and find out how we chose our top 50.
1. Salo LLC
Senior-level finance/accounting staffing, Minneapolis
Amy Langer
Began: 2002
Initial Investment: $100,000
2002 sales: $55,000
2006 sales: $32.1 million
Biggest Challenge:
"By hiring the right management team and building a strong infrastructure, I can focus on the longer-term strategic aspects of growing our business."
Best advice:
"I feel very strongly that it is essential to create a clear vision for our business and to hire great people to help execute. This allows the founder to successfully work 'on' the business rather than 'in' it."
2. Koni Corp.
Hospitality industry window treatments and linens, San Diego
Koni Kim
Began: 1998
Initial Investment: $50,000
2002 sales: $60,000
2006 sales: $13.7 million
Biggest Challenge:
"Quality people are the company's best assets. A good skill set is only part of the equation. Their hearts, passion and outlook on life can be the most important elements in finding great associates."
Best Advice:
"Success is a state of mind. Everyday offers new opportunities to succeed. Share and enjoy the success with others."
3. Circles
Marketing solutions, Boston
Janet Kraus, Kathy Sherbrooke
Began: 1996
Initial Investment: $26.9 million
2002 sales: $1.7 million
2006 sales: $44.4 million
Best Advice:
"Communicate incessantly and consistently what you are trying to achieve. As the company grows, communication needs to become formalized."
Success Secret:
"Getting the right people on the team is the only way to succeed…at a certain point they have to have people work for them that can make business critical decisions in real time without 'checking with the boss.'"
4. Windsor Quality Food Co. Ltd.
Food manufacturing, Houston
Anne M. Smalling, Phyllis S. Hojel, Kathryn M. Geib
Began: 1990
Initial Investment: $12 million
2002 sales: $221 million
2006 sales: $697 million
Best Advice:
"Face your issues/problems head-on and quickly. They do not go away; they just get worse if you are not willing to deal with them."
Success Secret:
"Not a secret, but certainly our belief: Our people are our greatest asset and we value honesty and integrity above all else."
5. Mexus Transport
Trucking company, Northville, MI
Alba R. McConnell
Began: 2003
Initial Investment: $300,000
2002 sales: $115,000
2006 sales: $9.4 million
Success Secret:
"Keep your eye on the ball, always remembering there are many paths that will lead you to your goal. You have to want it bad! If self-sacrifice is not one of your virtues, you will most likely fail."
Best Advice:
"Have pride in what you are doing, whether you are alone at the beginning of the enterprise or with a staff as you grow. Always remember that every day you go to work, you are helping others to have a quality of life that we all deserve."
6. Temporary Housing Directory
Temporary housing/hotel placements Plano, TX
Teresa Vidger
Began: 2001
Initial Investment: $100,000
2002 sales: $400,000
2006 sales: $17 million
Success Secret:
"We have most of our employees work from home offices. With the right people and technology, this is a great way to keep your employees happy and to be more productive."
Best Advice:
"I have found it is very important to listen to your customers and be willing to change the way you do business based on their feedback. Try not to be too rigid in your business model so you can adapt to changes when needed and you can constantly improve your service."
7. Lanmark Technology
IT/administrative services, Fairfax, VA
Lani Hay
Began: 2000
Initial Investment: $6,000
2002 sales: $151,000
2006 sales: $10.1 million
Success Secret:
"Always portray where you are going in life, not where you came from. Dare to dream, and create the life you want to live."
Inspiration:
"Prior to forming my company, I found that my professional growth opportunities were limited by people's perception of my talents. This led me to creating a company built on the foundation of my personal values with no corporate ladder to climb and no glass ceiling to break."
8. Sun Coast Resources
Petroleum products, Houston
Kathy Lehne
Began: 1985
Initial Investment: $2,000
2002 sales: $373.7 million
2006 sales: $864.2 million
Best Advice:
"Know what you want. Know where you are headed. Ask for help. Give everything you have to accomplish your goals."
Success Secret:
"Never let anything but succeeding cloud your pursuit of excellence."
9. Morpheus Media
Advertising and marketing agency, New York City
Shenan Reed
Began: 2001
Initial Investment: $0
2002 sales: $800,000
2006 sales: $22.6 million
Best Advice:
"Never get too big for your britches. In a fast-growing entrepreneurial company, there is no job too big or too small for any member of the team, including the leader."
Biggest Challenge:
"As the founders, we were the ones who started everything--the methods, reasoning, thinking, processes--by which Morpheus Media operates…It's extremely hard to trust others to do the work as well, if not better, than you would do it. I've surrounded myself with extremely talented, intelligent people who have that same entrepreneurial spirit, trained them well and set them free to do the work."
10. Cenergy Corp.
Energy solutions, Houston
June R. Coldren
Began: 1996
Initial Investment: $50,000
2002 sales: $3.9 million
2006 sales: $47.6 million
Inspiration:
"I was a very driven mother of three. I wanted to make a difference somewhere but needed flex-ibility with my schedule. I saw this niche opportunity and decided to run with it!"
Success Secret:
"We try to become an integral part of our clients' team which opens up new opportunities for us."
Growing Strong
Top 50: 1-10
Celebrating the growing power of women's businesses, Entrepreneur and the Women Presidents' Organization teamed up to bring you the top 50 fastest-growing women-led companies. Meet our No.1 fastest-growing entrepreneur and find out how we chose our top 50.
1. Salo LLC
Senior-level finance/accounting staffing, Minneapolis
Amy Langer
Began: 2002
Initial Investment: $100,000
2002 sales: $55,000
2006 sales: $32.1 million
Biggest Challenge:
"By hiring the right management team and building a strong infrastructure, I can focus on the longer-term strategic aspects of growing our business."
Best advice:
"I feel very strongly that it is essential to create a clear vision for our business and to hire great people to help execute. This allows the founder to successfully work 'on' the business rather than 'in' it."
2. Koni Corp.
Hospitality industry window treatments and linens, San Diego
Koni Kim
Began: 1998
Initial Investment: $50,000
2002 sales: $60,000
2006 sales: $13.7 million
Biggest Challenge:
"Quality people are the company's best assets. A good skill set is only part of the equation. Their hearts, passion and outlook on life can be the most important elements in finding great associates."
Best Advice:
"Success is a state of mind. Everyday offers new opportunities to succeed. Share and enjoy the success with others."
3. Circles
Marketing solutions, Boston
Janet Kraus, Kathy Sherbrooke
Began: 1996
Initial Investment: $26.9 million
2002 sales: $1.7 million
2006 sales: $44.4 million
Best Advice:
"Communicate incessantly and consistently what you are trying to achieve. As the company grows, communication needs to become formalized."
Success Secret:
"Getting the right people on the team is the only way to succeed…at a certain point they have to have people work for them that can make business critical decisions in real time without 'checking with the boss.'"
4. Windsor Quality Food Co. Ltd.
Food manufacturing, Houston
Anne M. Smalling, Phyllis S. Hojel, Kathryn M. Geib
Began: 1990
Initial Investment: $12 million
2002 sales: $221 million
2006 sales: $697 million
Best Advice:
"Face your issues/problems head-on and quickly. They do not go away; they just get worse if you are not willing to deal with them."
Success Secret:
"Not a secret, but certainly our belief: Our people are our greatest asset and we value honesty and integrity above all else."
5. Mexus Transport
Trucking company, Northville, MI
Alba R. McConnell
Began: 2003
Initial Investment: $300,000
2002 sales: $115,000
2006 sales: $9.4 million
Success Secret:
"Keep your eye on the ball, always remembering there are many paths that will lead you to your goal. You have to want it bad! If self-sacrifice is not one of your virtues, you will most likely fail."
Best Advice:
"Have pride in what you are doing, whether you are alone at the beginning of the enterprise or with a staff as you grow. Always remember that every day you go to work, you are helping others to have a quality of life that we all deserve."
6. Temporary Housing Directory
Temporary housing/hotel placements Plano, TX
Teresa Vidger
Began: 2001
Initial Investment: $100,000
2002 sales: $400,000
2006 sales: $17 million
Success Secret:
"We have most of our employees work from home offices. With the right people and technology, this is a great way to keep your employees happy and to be more productive."
Best Advice:
"I have found it is very important to listen to your customers and be willing to change the way you do business based on their feedback. Try not to be too rigid in your business model so you can adapt to changes when needed and you can constantly improve your service."
7. Lanmark Technology
IT/administrative services, Fairfax, VA
Lani Hay
Began: 2000
Initial Investment: $6,000
2002 sales: $151,000
2006 sales: $10.1 million
Success Secret:
"Always portray where you are going in life, not where you came from. Dare to dream, and create the life you want to live."
Inspiration:
"Prior to forming my company, I found that my professional growth opportunities were limited by people's perception of my talents. This led me to creating a company built on the foundation of my personal values with no corporate ladder to climb and no glass ceiling to break."
8. Sun Coast Resources
Petroleum products, Houston
Kathy Lehne
Began: 1985
Initial Investment: $2,000
2002 sales: $373.7 million
2006 sales: $864.2 million
Best Advice:
"Know what you want. Know where you are headed. Ask for help. Give everything you have to accomplish your goals."
Success Secret:
"Never let anything but succeeding cloud your pursuit of excellence."
9. Morpheus Media
Advertising and marketing agency, New York City
Shenan Reed
Began: 2001
Initial Investment: $0
2002 sales: $800,000
2006 sales: $22.6 million
Best Advice:
"Never get too big for your britches. In a fast-growing entrepreneurial company, there is no job too big or too small for any member of the team, including the leader."
Biggest Challenge:
"As the founders, we were the ones who started everything--the methods, reasoning, thinking, processes--by which Morpheus Media operates…It's extremely hard to trust others to do the work as well, if not better, than you would do it. I've surrounded myself with extremely talented, intelligent people who have that same entrepreneurial spirit, trained them well and set them free to do the work."
10. Cenergy Corp.
Energy solutions, Houston
June R. Coldren
Began: 1996
Initial Investment: $50,000
2002 sales: $3.9 million
2006 sales: $47.6 million
Inspiration:
"I was a very driven mother of three. I wanted to make a difference somewhere but needed flex-ibility with my schedule. I saw this niche opportunity and decided to run with it!"
Success Secret:
"We try to become an integral part of our clients' team which opens up new opportunities for us."
The top 25 are listed here, view source, for the 50...
http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/st_sbwomen0422_20100422.html
April 22, 2010
Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Led Companies
The third annual listing of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Led Companies was compiled by the Women Presidents' Organization and sponsored by American Express.
To be eligible for the list, companies must be privately owned, women-owned or led, have generated $500,000 in annual revenue in 2004 and have an annual revenue of at least $2 million by year-end 2009. Membership in WPO is not required.
The 50 Fastest were selected from more than 400 eligible applicants using a sales-growth formula that combines percentage and absolute growth.
Rank Company Entrepreneur(s) City, State Description Year Founded Revenue (in millions): 2005 2007 2009
Loading...
1 Argent Associates Inc. Beatriz Manetta Edison, N.J. Supply chain management and inventory management 1998 $8.5 $9.2 $115.0
2 BrightStar Care Shelly Sun Gurnee, Ill. Home healthcare and medical staffing services delivered through a franchising model 2002 $2.3 $9.7 $51.7
3 Artech Information Systems LLC Ranjini Poddar Cedar Knolls, N.J. IT consulting services 1992 $44.9 $128.2 $224.5
4 Warrior Group Inc. Gail Warrior-Lawrence DeSoto, Texas Construction services, including modular construction 1997 $26.2 $41.7 $123.9
5 TransPerfect Translations International Inc. Elizabeth Elting New York Language services provider and translation company 1992 $73.7 $156.5 $221.5
6 AK Environmental LLC Amy Gonzales and Kelly Caldwell West Trenton, N.J. Consulting firm focusing primarily on the energy sector 2002 $1.0 $6.2 $17.5
7 Passport Health Fran Lessans Baltimore Provider of travel medical services 1994 $4.5 $5.6 $35.2
8 HighRoad Press LLC Hallie Satz New York Printing solution company 2004 $0.6 $11.7 $11.4
9 Quantum Retail Technology Inc. Vicki Raport and Dr. Linda Whitaker Minneapolis Provider of software systems for retail industry 2004 $0.5 $2.7 $9.5
10 Atlas Travel International Elaine Osgood Milford, Mass. Full-service travel agency for corporate travel and vacations 1986 $62.0 $130.0 $150.0
11 Butler/Till Media Services Inc. Sue Butler and Tracy Till Rochester, N.Y. Media agency that helps advertisers engage consumers 1998 $17.3 $32.3 $62.7
12 TechnoDyne LLC Padma Allen Wayne, N.J. Technology solutions for government and commercial enterprises 1998 $23.9 $68.2 $76.1
13 National Recovery Agency Jill E.M. Kusic Esq. Harrisburg, Pa. Revenue recovery business services 2005 $12.3 $27.1 $47.7
14 Integrated Mortgage Solutions Cheryl Lang Houston Provider of collateral protection resources for the mortgage servicing sector 2000 $2.3 $8.1 $17.5
15 Andra Group LP Tomima Edmark Dallas Online seller of lingerie 1998 $6.0 $15.0 $30.0
16 The Saxon Group Inc. Jeni Bogdan Suwanee, Ga. Heavy industrial construction 1991 $19.0 $81.9 $61.5
17 Beacon Associates Inc. Carol Koffinke Bel Air, Md. Organizational effectiveness consulting for federal goverment and private industry 2001 $1.9 $5.4 $14.3
18 Spirit Electronics Inc. Vickie Wessel Phoenix Supply-chain solutions and electronic component distribution for aerospace, defense and communication industries 1979 $8.2 $13.7 $32.8
19 DMS International Inc. Magdalah Silva Silver Spring, Md. Information management, consulting and training 1994 $0.9 $5.3 $9.1
20 Ampcus Inc. Anjali Ramakumaran Chantilly, Va. Business, technology and engineering consulting 2004 $0.5 $2.7 $6.6
21 Point 2 Point Global Security Inc. Stephanie Point Bel Air, Md. Provider of security services 2004 $0.6 $5.7 $7.2
22 C.B. Transportation Inc. Carole Borden Chester Springs, Pa. Logistics and transportation management company 1995 $0.8 $4.3 $8.1
23 Government Contract Solutions Nicole Geller Vienna, Va. Professional services provider to federal government and industry clients 1995 $3.8 $8.7 $19.5
24 Suzanne's Specialties Inc. Susan A. Morano New Brunswick, N.J. Maker of organic sweeteners, fruit spreads and toppings 1984 $6.8 $15.2 $26.7
25 Logical Choice Technologies Inc. Cynthia B. Kaye Lawrenceville, Ga. Education services 1994 $35.6 $65.4 $79.7
Sources: Women Presidents' Organization and the companies. Revenue are amounts rounded.
Write to the Online Journal's editors at newseditors@wsj.com
http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/st_sbwomen0422_20100422.html
April 22, 2010
Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Led Companies
The third annual listing of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Led Companies was compiled by the Women Presidents' Organization and sponsored by American Express.
To be eligible for the list, companies must be privately owned, women-owned or led, have generated $500,000 in annual revenue in 2004 and have an annual revenue of at least $2 million by year-end 2009. Membership in WPO is not required.
The 50 Fastest were selected from more than 400 eligible applicants using a sales-growth formula that combines percentage and absolute growth.
Rank Company Entrepreneur(s) City, State Description Year Founded Revenue (in millions): 2005 2007 2009
Loading...
1 Argent Associates Inc. Beatriz Manetta Edison, N.J. Supply chain management and inventory management 1998 $8.5 $9.2 $115.0
2 BrightStar Care Shelly Sun Gurnee, Ill. Home healthcare and medical staffing services delivered through a franchising model 2002 $2.3 $9.7 $51.7
3 Artech Information Systems LLC Ranjini Poddar Cedar Knolls, N.J. IT consulting services 1992 $44.9 $128.2 $224.5
4 Warrior Group Inc. Gail Warrior-Lawrence DeSoto, Texas Construction services, including modular construction 1997 $26.2 $41.7 $123.9
5 TransPerfect Translations International Inc. Elizabeth Elting New York Language services provider and translation company 1992 $73.7 $156.5 $221.5
6 AK Environmental LLC Amy Gonzales and Kelly Caldwell West Trenton, N.J. Consulting firm focusing primarily on the energy sector 2002 $1.0 $6.2 $17.5
7 Passport Health Fran Lessans Baltimore Provider of travel medical services 1994 $4.5 $5.6 $35.2
8 HighRoad Press LLC Hallie Satz New York Printing solution company 2004 $0.6 $11.7 $11.4
9 Quantum Retail Technology Inc. Vicki Raport and Dr. Linda Whitaker Minneapolis Provider of software systems for retail industry 2004 $0.5 $2.7 $9.5
10 Atlas Travel International Elaine Osgood Milford, Mass. Full-service travel agency for corporate travel and vacations 1986 $62.0 $130.0 $150.0
11 Butler/Till Media Services Inc. Sue Butler and Tracy Till Rochester, N.Y. Media agency that helps advertisers engage consumers 1998 $17.3 $32.3 $62.7
12 TechnoDyne LLC Padma Allen Wayne, N.J. Technology solutions for government and commercial enterprises 1998 $23.9 $68.2 $76.1
13 National Recovery Agency Jill E.M. Kusic Esq. Harrisburg, Pa. Revenue recovery business services 2005 $12.3 $27.1 $47.7
14 Integrated Mortgage Solutions Cheryl Lang Houston Provider of collateral protection resources for the mortgage servicing sector 2000 $2.3 $8.1 $17.5
15 Andra Group LP Tomima Edmark Dallas Online seller of lingerie 1998 $6.0 $15.0 $30.0
16 The Saxon Group Inc. Jeni Bogdan Suwanee, Ga. Heavy industrial construction 1991 $19.0 $81.9 $61.5
17 Beacon Associates Inc. Carol Koffinke Bel Air, Md. Organizational effectiveness consulting for federal goverment and private industry 2001 $1.9 $5.4 $14.3
18 Spirit Electronics Inc. Vickie Wessel Phoenix Supply-chain solutions and electronic component distribution for aerospace, defense and communication industries 1979 $8.2 $13.7 $32.8
19 DMS International Inc. Magdalah Silva Silver Spring, Md. Information management, consulting and training 1994 $0.9 $5.3 $9.1
20 Ampcus Inc. Anjali Ramakumaran Chantilly, Va. Business, technology and engineering consulting 2004 $0.5 $2.7 $6.6
21 Point 2 Point Global Security Inc. Stephanie Point Bel Air, Md. Provider of security services 2004 $0.6 $5.7 $7.2
22 C.B. Transportation Inc. Carole Borden Chester Springs, Pa. Logistics and transportation management company 1995 $0.8 $4.3 $8.1
23 Government Contract Solutions Nicole Geller Vienna, Va. Professional services provider to federal government and industry clients 1995 $3.8 $8.7 $19.5
24 Suzanne's Specialties Inc. Susan A. Morano New Brunswick, N.J. Maker of organic sweeteners, fruit spreads and toppings 1984 $6.8 $15.2 $26.7
25 Logical Choice Technologies Inc. Cynthia B. Kaye Lawrenceville, Ga. Education services 1994 $35.6 $65.4 $79.7
Sources: Women Presidents' Organization and the companies. Revenue are amounts rounded.
Write to the Online Journal's editors at newseditors@wsj.com
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