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

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.

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