Business Services

Focus: Meet Chicago's 50 Fastest Growing Companies

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/section/ISSUE02?date=20140531

By: Lorene Yue

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 1: Agave Loco

Tom Maas nearly sold off his company's hit product before it became a hit.  Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 2: Maven Wave Partners

In 2010, this Loop company invested heavily in a partnership with Google to be a provider of the tech giant's cloud computing platform and… Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 3: Honey-Can-Do International

Since it launched in 2008, this west suburban company has kept big-box retailers in its cross-hairs.  Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 4: Peerless Network

In December, this telecommunications company landed its first big fish, purchasing IntelePeer Inc. of San Mateo, California—a move that is expected to more than double Peerless… Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 5: Ahead

It might sound paradoxical that a small startup focuses solely on large companies. Since 2007, Ahead has been an information technology adviser to a half-dozen of the 10 largest law firms… Full Article

By: Julie Davis

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 6: Market6

Most grocery chains and stores have access to a wealth of untapped data: everything from their customers' favorite items to how much each promotion did—or did not— increase… Full Article

By: Andrew L. Wang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 7: Sagent Pharmaceuticals

In the generics game, the window for profitability is short. So being first to market is crucial. At eight-year-old Sagent Pharmaceuticals, development of new products starts years in… Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 8: Textura

Nearly 1 in 10 commercial contractors in the U.S. subscribes to Textura's software platform for paying bills and sending legal documents. So it is often accountants and administrators in… Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 9: Catamaran

After this Schaumburg company made a play in 2012 for its rival, Rockville, Maryland's Catalyst Health Solutions Inc., many observers expected Catamaran to take a long breath and integrate… Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 10: Load Delivered Logistics

This third-party logistics company's January 2008 launch coincided with the start of the recession, a stroke of timing that determined its path.  Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 11: Paragon Micro

Jeff Reimer, Paragon Micro's president (at right), credits the growth of his computer equipment and software consultancy to his 36-person sales team.  Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 12: Mack Industries

During the housing crash, CEO James McClelland's firm ratcheted up its business buying foreclosed homes, then fixing them up and renting them out to families.  Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 13: Access Media 3

Last November, Access Media 3 landed its 16th acquisition, the biggest in its seven-year history. The company paid more than $20 million to gobble up another private cable operator, MDU… Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 14: L2T Media

This Evanston company has capitalized on the shift of marketing dollars from traditional to digital media, particularly as it relates to one type of customer: car dealerships, which make up … Full Article

By: John Pletz

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 15: SingleHop

In 2013, SingleHop lost its biggest customer after it was acquired by a larger company. CEO Zak Boca, 32 (at right), solved the problem mostly by selling new services to existing customers. … Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 16: Healthcare Solutions Team

This seven-year-old small health care insurer wooed—and won—tens of thousands of customers who lost their jobs and their insurance during the recession.  Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 17: Brad's Deals

Like many companies, Brad's Deals offers retailers' promotions and printable coupons. But founder Brad Wilson (at right) has positioned his company as a consumer's ally, filtering thousands … Full Article

By: Julie Davis

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 18: Madison Construction

“We have a fundamental belief that if we can't add value to a project, we don't want to do it,” says Robert Ferrino (at right), president of this Orland Park-based construction… Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 19: Gogo

Gogo Inc. CEO Michael Small Photo: Kendall Karmanian  Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 20: Rightpoint Consulting

When it comes to priorities, co-founders Ross Freedman, 39, and Brad Schneider think first about how customers interact with brands on websites and apps.  Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 21: Impact Advisors

Andrew Smith, who founded Impact Advisors with his brother, Peter, in 2007, likes to point out that “the level of technology in your average grocery store exceeds the technology in… Full Article

By: Julie Davis

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 22: Coyote Logistics

In March, Coyote Logistics merged with Access America Transport, a union that added a half-billion in revenue, says CEO Jeff Silver, 51 (at right).  Full Article

By: Julie Davis

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 23: Gorilla Group

After buying Web development firm Gorilla Group in 2008, CEO Brian Grady (at right) steered the company toward e-commerce Web development just as the popularity of broadband wireless and… Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 24: Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants

In 2013, Cooper's Hawk opened three restaurants, bringing this suburban company's total to 14. Four more are planned for 2014: two in Orlando, Florida, and one each in Richmond, Virginia,… Full Article

By: Esther Kang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 25: Trisect

Founder and CEO Dick Thomas, 57 (at right), says nimble responses to a fast-changing industry, a focus on digital and social media, and a highly selective hiring process have helped Trisect … Full Article

By: Esther Kang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 26: National Collegiate Scouting Association

With its mobile app launch in 2013, CEO Chris Krause (at right) says this national recruiting firm for prospective college athletes is “becoming the LinkedIn” for the athletes… Full Article

By: Esther Kang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 27: Clarity Solution Group

In an already-hot big data market, Clarity Solutions' focus on being a single-shot practice sets it apart from the big-box companies that offer a dizzying array of services.  Full Article

By: Esther Kang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 28: Tangerine Promotions

In an industry flooded with key chains, pens, stress balls and ill-fitting T-shirts, Tangerine Promotions prides itself on retail-quality apparel and smart point-of-sale displays.  Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 29: CPT Network Solutions

In 2008, CPT Network Solutions derived about 40 percent of revenue from one customer.  Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 30: Creative Werks

Last summer, after nearly doubling its production capacity to 550,000 square feet, Creative Werks nabbed Kellogg Co. as a client.  Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 31: Lyons Consulting Group

Last year, this Loop-based e-commerce strategist added digital marketing to its strategy, design and implementation menu. “That was a big transformation,” CEO Richard Lyons, 49… Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 32: Clover Holdings

An acquisition in late 2012 gave this technology equipment remanufacturer the capacity to repair cellphones, adding nearly $300 million to annual revenue. Clover Holdings has expanded its… Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 33: Echo Global Logistics

Since 2007, Echo Global Logistics has made a rapid-fire 18 acquisitions, enabling the company to ascend to a No. 5 ranking among the biggest freight planning companies in the U.S.  Full Article

By: Esther Kang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 34: Parts Town

With this company, it all starts with smart customer service—Parts Town promises to answer calls within three rings.  Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 35: Program Productions

Program Productions Inc. CEO Robert Carzoli and his brother, Joe Carzoli, vice president of labor, at a Blackhawks game Photo: Stephen J. Serio… Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 36: Arco/Murray National Construction

From 2012 to 2013, Arco/Murray's average project size shot up to $4.1 million from $2.8 million. “In the past, people were buying existing buildings and renovating,” says Brad… Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 37: OSM Worldwide

The growing appetite for online shopping has provided this Bensenville parcel shipper ample opportunity. Since 2011, the number of packages it processes has increased by more than 30… Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 38: Paylocity

Under CEO Steve Beauchamp, Paylocity has graduated from a payroll service specialist concentrated on a narrow swath of Midwestern clients to a national firm with products aimed at mid-… Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 39: Sterling Lumber

Led by President Carter Sterling, 38 (at right), and his three brothers—Cooper, Christian and Carson—this third-generation family business recently lightened its product,… Full Article

By: Esther Kang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 40: Level Construction

Aggressive marketing, including a detailed website and portfolio, and top-notch customer service have helped this Harwood Heights-based construction firm grow 282 percent over five… Full Article

By: Esther Kang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 41: Proven Business Systems

The bread and butter of this Tinley Park-based business is still hardware—scanners, printers, imaging products—but Proven's consultative services are growing yearly,… Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 42: Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide

Blue Chip has continued growing its niche helping pharmaceutical clients recruit participants for clinical trials of new drugs. The shopper and brand marketing practices also are thriving… Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 43: Tandem HR

During the past 15 years, founder and President Bruce Leon, 52 (at right), has seen a threefold increase in the number of human resources regulations (now at about 108, he estimates) for… Full Article

By: Esther Kang

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 44: GoHealth

Built on a single platform, this software company's online portal, GoHealth, helps users shop for coverage, while other channels help brokers and carriers connect to users. (GoHealth gets a … Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 45: KapStone Paper and Packaging

Early last year, KapStone initiated 5 percent price increases in key product lines, bringing its average sale price to $685 per ton of paper products.  Full Article

By: Kevin McKeough

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 46: RKON

After years of serving midsized companies with small in-house IT budgets, last year RKON moved up to major corporations going through a merger or acquisition.  Full Article

By: S.A. Swanson

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 47: Commonground

This marketing firm netted some notable new clients last year, from Verizon Wireless and Nissan Motor Co. to Primaloft Inc., which prompted the company's first campaign work in Europe and… Full Article

By: Julie Davis

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 48: Windy City Limousine & Bus

Windy City Limousine & Bus CEO George Jacobs  Full Article

By: H. Lee Murphy

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 49: At World Properties

With 15 offices and more than $4 billion in listed sales volume, @Properties, as it is known, now ranks No. 2 among Illinois brokers behind Coldwell Banker.  Full Article

By: Julie Davis

Fast Fifty 2014 No. 50: Scrap Metal Services

Scrap Metal Services' strength is in diversification, says founder and CEO Jeffry Gertler, 54 (at right). “We have different businesses that perform at different times in the economy,… Full Article

Fast Fifty 2014: Methodology

How'd we find them? Who was eligible? How was the data vetted? Here's the fine print.  Full Article

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