Wall Street Journal - May 2, 2013
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) today released the sixth ranking of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/led companies in North America in its annual program sponsored by American Express OPEN, the small business division of American Express. The Top 50 generated a combined $3.2 billion in 2012 revenues and collectively employed 24,000 people in 2012.
Happy Family, which offers a complete line of organic meals and snacks for families based in New York, has taken the top spot for 2013. Shazi Visram, founder and chief executive officer saw her 10-year-old company's revenue quadruple in two years from $13.3 million in 2010 to $62.3 million in 2012.
Strategic Communications, a Louisville-based provider of technology services, tripled her company's employment within a two year span to take second place this year. Kathy Mills, chief executive officer, has also nearly doubled the company's revenues from $23.1 million in 2010 to $41.2 million in 2012.
"This year more than half of the companies in the Top 50 are new to the ranking and this trend illustrates how diverse women-owned and led companies are," said Marsha Firestone, Ph. D., president and founder of WPO. "We are so pleased to continue our partnership with American Express OPEN in honoring these trailblazing women and their amazing accomplishments."
Research commissioned by American Express OPEN earlier this year shows that the number of women-owned firms pulling in $10 million or more in annual sales has jumped by 57% over 10 years.
"American Express OPEN is honored to support this elite group of women who represent the full spectrum of industries and have become leaders within the women business community," said Randi Schochet, vice president at American Express OPEN. "Entrepreneurship is an exciting option for women, and the honorees we recognize today are excellent role models for women entrepreneurs, focusing on growth and thereby creating jobs and boosting the economy."
All submitted companies were ranked according to a sales growth formula that combines percentage and absolute growth. From this list, the 50 Fastest were selected. To be qualified for the ranking, businesses are required to be privately held, woman-owned/led companies in the U.S. or Canada and reached annual revenue of at least $500,000 in 2007 and $2 million in 2012.
More about the 2013 WPO Top 50:
- The average revenue grew from $24.9 million in 2008 to $64.5 million in 2012
- Founded the business: 90%
- Average age: 47
- Average number of projected 2013 employees: 641
In order to help the Top 50 continue to seize even more business opportunities, each of the honored business owners will be offered a $500 American Express gift card.
All 50 companies will be honored at a special event hosted by American Express OPEN at the 2013 WPO Annual Conference in Dallas, TX on May 2, 2013. The awards reception will take place from 6 -- 9PM at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel.
The WPO's 2013 Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies are:
Entrepreneur Name Company Name City, State/Province
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
1 Shazi Visram Happy Family New York, NY
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
2 Kathy Mills Strategic Communications Louisville, KY
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
3 Shelly Sun BrightStar Franchising, LLC Gurnee, IL
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
4 Tiffany Crenshaw Intellect Resources Greensboro, NC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
5 June Ressler Cenergy International Houston, TX
Services, LLC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
6 Sue Bhatia Rose International, Inc. Chesterfield, MO
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
7 Anita Emoff Boost Technologies Dayton, OH
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
8 Kathleen Croddick Suite K Value Added South Brunswick, NJ
Services, LLC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
9 Lani Hay Lanmark Technology Vienna, VA
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
10 Ranjini Poddar Artech Information Systems, Cedar Knolls, NJ
LLC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
11 Tracy Balazs Federal Staffing Resources, Annapolis, MD
LLC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
12 Lori Ann Blaker TTi Global Rochester Hills, MI
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
13 Phyllis W. Newhouse Xtreme Solutions, Inc. Atlanta, GA
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
14 Claudine George ICONMA LLC Troy, MI
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
15 Joy Taylor TayganPoint Consulting Lambertville, NJ
Company
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
16 Sarah Valentini Radius Financial Group, Norwell, MA
Inc.
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
17 Jacqueline B Wilson American Fashion Network, Manlius, NY
LLC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
18 Elizabeth Elting TransPerfect New York, NY
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
19 Therese Tucker BlackLine Systems Los Angeles, CA
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
20 Terry Lehmann True Green Enterprises, Boca Raton, FL
Inc.
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
21 Pamela O'Rourke ICON Information Houston, TX
Consultants LP
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
22 Allison McGrath Judge Transformhealthrx Statesboro, GA
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
23 Leslie A. Firtell, Esq. Tower Legal Solutions New York, NY
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
24 Shari Sandifer Avant Healthcare Casselberry, FL
Professionals
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
25 Jennifer Smith Innovative Office Burnsville, MN
Solutions, LLC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
26 Kara Trott Quantum Health Columbus, OH
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
27 Valerie Freeman Anserteam, LLC Dallas, TX
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
28 Leonora Valvo Etouches Norwalk, CT
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
29 Keeli Jernigan Trans-Expedite, Inc. El Paso, TX
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
30 Noha Waibsnaider Peeled Snacks Brooklyn, NY
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
31 Sonja Hines H&S Resources Corporation Columbia, MD
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
32 Elaine Osgood Atlas Travel Milford, MA
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
33 Annalisa Xioutas Florida's Finest Fort Myers, FL
Industries, Inc.
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
34 Rebecca Cenni Atrium Staffing, LLC New York, NY
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
35 Marianne Lancaster Lancaster Packaging, Inc. Hudson, MA
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
36 Anjali Ramakumaran Ampcus, Inc. Chantilly, VA
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
37 Carol Craig Craig Technologies Cape Canaveral, FL
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
38 Barbara Levine Exam Coordinators Network Boca Raton, FL
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
39 Bernadette Milito CSS Building Services, Inc. Dayton, NJ
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
40 Celeste Gudas 24 Seven, Inc. New York, NY
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
41 Carrie Kerpen Likeable Media New York, NY
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
42 Nancy McFarlane MedPro RX, Inc. Raleigh, NC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
43 Marie Seipenko Preferred Solutions, Inc. Northville, MI
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
44 Orit Koren Trillium FSB Inc. Concord, ON
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
45 Lisa David eCapital Advisors, LLC Bloomington, MN
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
46 Suzanne Bachur Premiere Executive Halifax, NS
Suites/Atlantic Limited
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
47 Jessica Firestone Tempest Telecom Solutions, Santa Barbara, CA
LLC
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
48 Barbara Ross-Denroche The Refinery Leadership Vancouver, BC
Partners, Inc.
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
49 Cheryl Y Biron One Horn Transportation Wayne, NJ
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
50 Stephanie Point Point 2 Point Global Addison, TX
Security, Inc.
----------------------- --------------------------- --------------------
About the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO)
The WPO is the premier peer advisory organization connecting women who own multi-million dollar companies. In monthly meetings across four continents (North America, South America, Europe, and Africa) chapters of 20 women presidents -- from diverse industries -- invest time and energy in themselves and their businesses to drive their corporations to the next level. Local WPO chapters are coordinated by a professional facilitator and meet monthly to share business expertise and experience in a confidential setting. For more information, call 212-688-4114 or visit www.womenpresidentsorg.com.
About American Express OPEN
American Express OPEN is the leading payment card issuer for small businesses in the United States and supports business owners and entrepreneurs with products and services to help them run and grow their businesses. This includes business charge and credit cards that deliver purchasing power, flexibility, rewards, savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners and online tools and services designed to help improve profitability. Learn more at www.OPEN.com and connect with us at openforum.com and twitter.com/openforum.
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.
Key links to products and services: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, business travel, and corporate card.