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

Updated

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--(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 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

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.



Women Presidents' Organization
Kirsten Wynn, 212-688-4114
Kirsten@womenpresidentsorg.com
or
M Booth for American Express OPEN
Alex Della Rocca, 212-539-3203
alexd@mbooth.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York Texas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Fifty Thriving Women Entrepreneurs Recognized in Dallas for Their Texas-Sized Growth originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Advertisement