50 Fastest

Fifty Thriving Women Entrepreneurs Recognized in Dallas for Their Texas-Sized Growth

Women Presidents' Organization and its sponsor American Express OPEN Name Annual Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies

DALLAS, TX,  May 2, 2013 -- 

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 Services, LLC
Houston, TX
6
Sue Bhatia
Rose International, Inc.
Chesterfield, MO
7
Anita Emoff
Boost Technologies
Dayton, OH
8
Kathleen Croddick
Suite K Value Added Services, LLC
South Brunswick, NJ
9
Lani Hay
Lanmark Technology
Vienna, VA
10
Ranjini Poddar
Artech Information Systems, LLC
Cedar Knolls, NJ
11
Tracy Balazs
Federal Staffing Resources, LLC
Annapolis, MD
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 Company
Lambertville, NJ
16
Sarah Valentini
Radius Financial Group, Inc.
Norwell, MA
17
Jacqueline B Wilson
American Fashion Network, LLC
Manlius, NY
18
Elizabeth Elting
TransPerfect
New York, NY
19
Therese Tucker
BlackLine Systems
Los Angeles, CA
20
Terry Lehmann
True Green Enterprises, Inc.
Boca Raton, FL
21
Pamela O'Rourke
ICON Information Consultants LP
Houston, TX
22
Allison McGrath Judge
Transformhealthrx
Statesboro, GA
23
Leslie A. Firtell, Esq.
Tower Legal Solutions
New York, NY
24
Shari Sandifer
Avant Healthcare Professionals
Casselberry, FL
25
Jennifer Smith
Innovative Office Solutions, LLC
Burnsville, MN
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 Industries, Inc.
Fort Myers, FL
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 Suites/Atlantic Limited
Halifax, NS
47
Jessica Firestone
Tempest Telecom Solutions, LLC
Santa Barbara, CA
48
Barbara Ross-Denroche
The Refinery Leadership Partners, Inc.
Vancouver, BC
49
Cheryl Y Biron
One Horn Transportation
Wayne, NJ
50
Stephanie Point
Point 2 Point Global Security, Inc.
Addison, TX
 
Originally published here        © 2024 American Express Company. All rights reserved.