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--()--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.

Contacts

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

Release Summary

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.

Contacts

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