Trailblazing Women Business Owners & Leaders Recognized for Rapid Company Growth

The Women Presidents' Organization and American Express Global Corporate Payments Name 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies

PHOENIX--()--The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), in partnership with American Express Global Corporate Payments, the division of American Express serving the payment solution needs of middle market and large companies, today released the eighth ranking of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies. For just the second time, nominations were open to global entries. The 50 Fastest generated a combined $4.4 billion in 2014 revenues (mean of $88.3 million) and collectively employed 31,121 in 2014 (mean of 692). Three notable winners are:

  • The Pinnacle Group, an IT workforce solutions firm based in Dallas, is new to the 2015 list and takes the number one spot. Nina Vaca, president and chief executive officer, saw her 19-year-old company revenue more than quadruple in four years, from $164,567,336 in 2010 to $665,577,015 in 2014. The entrepreneur, who still owns 100% of the firm she founded at age 24 with $300 of startup capital, attributes being nimble and able to adapt to client needs as the secret of her company’s rapid growth.
  • Morning Star Financial Services, a Minnesota-based financial management firm, rose from the number eight spot last year to second in 2015. Over the past two years, the firm’s revenue ($4,732,590 in 2012 to $44,199,555 in 2014) and employment (9 in 2012 to 121 in 2014) skyrocketed. Dr. Rebecca Thomley, president and chief executive officer, views company success as a combination of creativity, willingness to take risks and being surrounded with talented people.
  • Logistics provider Legion Logistics, LLC, another newcomer to the list, is the third fastest-growing company. The Florence, KY-based firm led by Lacy Starling more than doubled revenue in two years ($11,477,196 in 2012 to $25,485,107 in 2014) and added 19 employees during that span.

“The 50 Fastest list exemplifies the vital role women-owned/led companies have in boosting the economy and enhancing overall job growth,” said Marsha Firestone, Ph. D., president and founder of the WPO. “We are pleased to partner with American Express Global Corporate Payments to honor these powerful women and recognize their triumphs.”

“We at American Express are honored to support this elite group of women, who represent a wide spectrum of industries and have become leaders within the business community,” said Susan Sobbott, president, Global Corporate Payments, American Express. “The 50 Fastest companies are full-scale, successful and growing.”

Each of the honored business owners will be offered a congratulatory prize from American Express.

All eligible 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 and have reached revenue of at least $500,000 by the first week of 2010 and $2 million in 2014.

More about the 2015 50 Fastest:

  • Average Age: 49
  • CEOs that founded the business: 94%
  • Listed companies that do business globally: 50%
  • Average number of projected 2015 employees: 1,916

All 50 companies will be honored at a special event hosted by American Express Global Corporate Payments at the 2015 WPO Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on May, 1, 2015. The awards reception will take place from 6:30PM to 8:30PM at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.

 

The 2015 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Include:

    Entrepreneur Name       Company Name       City, State/Province/Country
1   Nina Vaca       The Pinnacle Group       Dallas, TX
2   Dr. Rebecca Thomley       Morning Star Financial Services       Golden Valley, MN
3   Lacy Starling       Legion Logistics, LLC       Florence, KY
4   Shari Spiro       Ad Magic, Inc.       Netcong, NJ
5   Kristi Alford       E2 Optics       Englewood, CO
6   April Feller       NLU Products dba BodyGuardz LLC       Lehi, UT
7   Kristina Roth       Matisia Consultants       Seattle, WA
8   Shelly Sun       BrightStar Franchising LLC       Gurnee, IL
9   Phyllis W. Newhouse       Xtreme Solutions Inc       Atlanta, GA
10   June Ressler       Cenergy international Services       Houston, TX
11   Sindhura Thummalasetty       SoftHQ Inc       San Diego, CA
12   Rochelle Rivas       Darton Group Consulting       Charlotte, NC
13   Denise Legg       MegaCorp Logistics       Wilmington, NC
14   Therese Tucker       BlackLine       Woodland Hills, CA
15   Liz Elting       TransPerfect       New York, NY
16   Mary Kariotis       Merrimak Capital Company       Novato, CA
17   Michelle Vondrasek       Von Technologies, LLC       Woodridge, IL
18   Kay Ivie       Ivie & Associates       Flower Mound, TX
19   Laura Kelly       Keyot       St Paul, MN
20   Leslie Alison Firtell       Tower Legal Solutions       New York, NY
21   Jennifer Guthrie       In-Flight Crew Connections, LLC       Charlotte, NC
22   Jacqueline Wilson       American Fashion Network       Manlius, NY
23   Zeynep Erkunt Armagan       Erkunt Traktor       Ankara, Turkey
24   Beatriz Manetta       Argent Associates, Inc.       Plano, TX
25   Kathy Phillips       Primitives by Kathy, Inc.       Lancaster, PA
26   Shavila Singh       Zero Waste Solutions, Inc.       Concord, CA
27   Fiona Gathright       Wellness Corporate Solutions, LLC       Bethesda, MD
28   Rebecca Cenni       Atrium Staffing       New York, NY
29   Lenora Payne       Technology Group Solutions, LLC       Lenexa, KS
30   Claudia Mirza       Akorbi       Plano, TX
31   Veronica Edwards       InGenesis, Inc.       San Antonio, TX
32   Karen Cooper       SmartIT       Indianapolis, IN
33   Kathryn Eberwein       The Global Edge Consultants, LLC       The Woodlands, TX
34   Catherine Tojaga       CT Mechanical       Lombard, IL
35   Moira Moser       M Moser Associates, LLC       New York, NY
36   Orit Koren       Trillium FSB Inc.       Concord, Ontario
37   Diane Astley       Xclusive Staffing       Westminster, CO
38   Patricia Bible       KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc.       Kodak, TN
39   Liane Weintraub       Tasty Brand, Inc.       Calabasas, CA
40   Sabina Teshler       SET Management, LLC       Portland, OR
41   Dee Hays       Excellence Engineering, LLC       Tulsa, OK
42   Pamela O'Rourke       ICON Information Consultants, LP       Houston, TX
43   Cassandra Sanford       KellyMitchell Group, Inc.       St. Louis, MO
44   Stacy Robison       CommunicateHealth, Inc.       Northampton, MA
45   Kara Trott       Quantum Health       Columbus, OH
46   Shelly Morse       Mosaic       Renton, WA
47   Cheryl Biron       One Horn Transportation       Wayne, NJ
48   Anjali Ramakumaran       Ampcus Inc       Chantilly, VA
49   Ronia Kruse       OpTech, LLC       Troy, MI
50   Allison McGrath Judge       Transformhealthrx       Statesboro, GA
             

About the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO)

The WPO is the ultimate affiliation for successful women entrepreneurs worldwide. In monthly meetings across the world, women 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 Global Corporate Payments

Through its Global Corporate Payments division, American Express offers a suite of B2B and T&E payment solutions that help organizations streamline processes and transform them into opportunities for savings, control and efficiency. American Express can help your organization increase working capital flexibility and strengthen relationships with suppliers. For more information, visit us at business.americanexpress.com/us and linkedin.com/company/american-express-global-corporate-payments.

About American Express

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/americanexpresslinkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

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Contacts

M Booth
Alex Della Rocca
212-539-3203
alexd@mbooth.com
or
American Express
Melissa Banas
917-514-4693
melissa.j.banas@aexp.com
or
Women Presidents’ Organization
Susan Johnson
917-601-5778
Sjohnson@womenpresidentsorg.com

Contacts

M Booth
Alex Della Rocca
212-539-3203
alexd@mbooth.com
or
American Express
Melissa Banas
917-514-4693
melissa.j.banas@aexp.com
or
Women Presidents’ Organization
Susan Johnson
917-601-5778
Sjohnson@womenpresidentsorg.com