February 2003
Inc 500
In this bearish economy many companies have felt the pains of lost business, revenues and profits. That's why Inc magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in America is even more impressive this year. Business Leader salutes the six Triangle companies, their leaders and employees, who earned a mention on the esteemed list for 2002.
Advanced Internet Technologies (AIT) beat the dot-com bust of the late 90s and is still growing. Launched in 1996 inside CEO Clarence Briggs' garage, AIT experienced tremendous revenue growth with a 3,500 percent jump from $858,000 in 1997 to more than $30-million in 2001.
"This (Inc 500) ranking confirms AIT's viability because it is based on sustained growth; you can't make this list by being a one year wonder," said Briggs. AIT today hosts more than 190,000 domains, or web sites, and provides the tools businesses need in the digital economy.
Briggs adds, "The key in our business is customer service, and this ranking is the best affirmation that we're doing the right things."
After the successful sale of SINTECH, Inc, Rashid Kahn formed Ultimus, offering a complete and scalable platform for designing, modeling, optimizing, documenting and deploying business processes. Funded on his own, Khan allowed the company to work toward long-term visions without the burden of short-term financial obligations.
That was 1994, since then the company has recorded a 4000 percent growth and awards such as this years Inc 500 list. Khan and his team employ 90 people in seven offices throughout the world and boast clients such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Citizens Bank and Microsoft.
Khan feels, "Ultimus' success, through the last five years and since the company's founding, is indicative of our best-of-breed workflow automation solutions and the entire team of talented Ultimus employees."
"I've always said, 'if you hire the right people the work will follow.' This ranking is more evidence that Serentec's employees are some of the most talented professionals in the pharmaceutical industry," said John R. Davis, Serentec President. Founded in 1996, Serentec provides regulatory compliance and validation services to FDA-regulated industries.
Success has continued to follow Serentec since publication of the Inc 500 list. According to Davis, as of November 1, 2002 Serentec merged and became, Lloyd's Register Serentec, Inc., a subsidiary of Lloyd's Register America's Inc.; part of Lloyd's Register Group. Davis explains that this 242-year-old independent risk management organization recognized the demand for risk management services in the pharmaceutical sector and acquired Serentec to meet those needs.
Open Software Solutions, Inc. a provider of public safety software for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services in the United States, attributes much of their success to a corporate culture that is devoted to delivering total customer satisfaction.
"An honor like this is so rewarding because it confirms our commitment to customer service and our employees' focus to make that commitment a reality," said JA Savage, president of OSSI.
Since 1994, OSSI has grown to over 80 employees and achieved a 692 percent growth rate in revenues over the past five years. OSSI has most recently been named to North Carolina's Technology Fast 50 Program and to the National Technology Fast 500 sponsored by Deloitte & Touche.
Trainersoft achieved 541 percent sales growth over the past five years, and grew its client base to include more than a third of all Fortune 500 companies. It's no wonder that shortly after publication of the Inc 500 list, the company merged with Boston based OutStart, who markets both companies' learning software as an integrated product family for the creation, management and delivery of learning content and will integrate Trainersoft's capabilities with it's current offerings.
"It is gratifying to be named to Inc.'s list of fastest growing private companies because of all of the hard work and dedication that our team has placed on innovation and client service over the past five years," said Martin Renkis, founder of Trainersoft and vice president of product management at OutStart.
Founded and incorporated on July 14, 1993, Alliance of Professionals & Consultants, Inc. (APC) provides professional staffing services for information technology, engineering and business services. APC believes the value applied to their clients' needs, combined with quality and expertise, at a very reasonable price has helped boost growth, landing them a spot on this year's Inc 500 list.
Roy Roberts, president & CEO says, " Our success over the last nine years is due to a little luck and a lot of very dedicated professionals focused on providing value to our clients. To us, value means striving to become a true strategic partner with our clients."