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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO BUSINESS, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
Women Presidents' Organization Unveils the 50 Fastest-Growing
Women-Owned/Led Companies Worldwide
NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Women
Presidents' Organization (WPO) has released its 7th Annual list of the
50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/led companies around the globe. The 50
Fastest generated $4.9 billion in combined 2013 revenues and
collectively employed 22,000 people. Compared with last year's list,
the total combined revenue of the 2014 winning companies grew by a
dramatic 53%.
Thirty-One Gifts, a direct seller of exclusive, stylish and functional
purses, totes, fashion accessories and organizing solutions, is the
fastest-growing woman-led/owned company. Cindy Monroe, founder and
chief executive officer who started the company in her basement in
2003, saw her company's revenues grow exponentially in four years --
from $38 million in 2009 to $760 million in 2013.
"The companies that made it onto our list this year reflect the
continued resourcefulness of women-led businesses," said Marsha
Firestone, Ph.D., president and founder of WPO. "We saw production
soaring, with an average revenue growth of 203% from 2009 to 2013. Not
only is the financial growth of these companies impressive, it shows
that women entrepreneurs are making inroads in non-traditional
businesses, such as information technology and transportation. The
growth of these women-led companies is particularly impressive as the
world economic recovery struggles to gain traction. Privately held
U.S. companies on average ended 2013 with annual sales growth of 5.4%,
the slowest rate of sales growth since 2009," Dr. Firestone added.
Strategic Communications, a Louisville-based provider of technology
services run by Kathy Mills ranked second this year, nearly doubling
the company's revenues, from $45.4 million in 2011 to $97.3 million in
2013. WDS, Inc., an international warehousing, distribution and
inventory management company, rounds out the top three. Jennifer
Maier, chief executive officer and president, grew the company's
revenue from $13.2 million to $155.8 million in the past four years.
For the first time since its inception, the 2014 50 Fastest was opened
to applicants on a global level, resulting in two international
businesses in the top ten. Participating companies were ranked
according to a sales growth formula that combines percentage and
absolute growth. To be qualified for the ranking, businesses are
required to be privately held, woman-owned/led companies with annual
revenue of at least $500,000 by year end 2008.
More about the 2014 WPO 50 Fastest:
-- Average revenue grew from $32.6 million in 2009 to $98.8 million in
2013
-- Founded the business: 90%
-- Average age: 48
-- Average number of projected 2014 employees: 657
All 50 companies will be honored at a special event during the 2014
WPO Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA on Thursday, April 24, 2014.
The awards reception will take place from 5:30 - 8:00 PM at the
Sheraton Hotel New Orleans.
The WPO's 2014 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies are:
Entrepreneur Name Company Name City/State
1 Cindy Monroe Thirty-One Gifts Columbus, OH
2 Kathy Mills Strategic Communications Louisville, KY
3 Jennifer Maier WDS, Inc. Lake Wylie, SC
4 June Ressler Cenergy Houston, TX
5 Shelly Sun BrightStar Gurnee, IL
6 Zeynep Erkunt-Armagan Erkunt Traktor Industry Inc. Sincan, Ankara - Turkey
7 Leslie A. Firtell, Esq. Tower Legal Solutions New York, NY
8 Dr. Rebecca Thomley Morning Star Financial Services, LLC Golden Valley, MN
9 SungJoo Kim Sungjoo D&D Seoul - Korea
10 Anita Emoff Boost Technologies Dayton, OH
11 Fiona Gathright Wellness Corporate Solutions, LLC Bethesda, MD
12 Lenora Payne Technology Group Solutions, LLC Lenexa, KS
13 Rebecca Cenni Atrium Staffing New York, NY
14 Liz Elting TransPerfect New York, NY
15 Beatriz Manetta Argent Associates, Inc. Edison, NJ
16 Celeste Gudas 24 Seven Inc. New York, NY
17 Jennifer Guthrie In-Flight Crew Connections Charlotte, NC
18 Therese Tucker BlackLine Systems Los Angeles, CA
19 Lori A Blaker TTi Global Rochester Hills, MI
20 Pamela Chambers O'Rourke ICON Information Consultants, LP Houston, TX
21 Leslie O'Connor Search Wizards, Inc. Atlanta, GA
22 Natalie Davis-Runyan Anserteam Workforce Solutions Dallas, TX
23 Keeli Jernigan Trans-Expedite, Inc. El Paso, TX
24 Cheryl Y. Biron One Horn Transportation Wayne, NJ
25 Patricia Bible Katom Restaurant Supply Kodak, TN
26 Kara J. Trott Quantum Health Columbus, OH
27 Claudine S. George ICONMA LLC Troy, MI
28 Jacqueline B Wilson American Fashion Network Manlius, NY
29 Teresa Sherald Diversity Search Group Columbus, OH
30 Denise Wilson Desert Jet Thermal, CA
31 Cassandra Sanford KellyMitchell Group, Inc. Clayton, MO
32 Phyllis W. Newhouse Xtreme Solutions Inc Atlanta, GA
33 Lisa David eCapital Advisors, LLC Bloomington, MN
34 Jennifer Smith Innovative Office Solutions Burnsville, MN
35 Orit Koren Trillium FSB Inc. Concord, ON - Canada
36 Allison McGrath Judge Transformhealthrx Statesboro, GA
37 Anjali "Ann" Ramakumaran Ampcus Inc Chantilly, VA
38 Cheryl Brunetti RVM Enterprises, Inc. New York, NY
39 Ranjini Poddar Artech Information Systems, LLC Cedar Knolls, NJ
40 Necole Parker The ELOCEN Group, LLC Washington, DC
41 Meredith Leapley Leapley Construction Group of Atlanta, LLC Atlanta, GA
42 Joanne Santomauro Ancillare Horsham, PA
43 Shari Dingle Sandifer Avant Healthcare Professionals Casselberry, FL
44 Dee Hays Excellence Engineering, LLC Tulsa, OK
45 Shelly Morse The Mosaic Company Tukwila, WA
46 Elaine Osgood Atlas Travel & Technology Group Milford, MA
47 Karen Clark Cole Blink UX Seattle, WA
48 Tracy Balazs FSR Annapolis MD
49 Jamie Fletcher Mach 1 Global Services Tempe, AZ
50 Jessica Firestone Tempest Telecom Solutions LLC Santa Barbara, CA
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.
Contact: Erin McKeon Global Group by JG erin@jgblackbook.com
212.967.5895
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130423/DC99942LOGO
SOURCE Women Presidents' Organization
-0- 04/25/2014
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130423/DC99942LOGO
/Web Site: http://www.womenpresidentsorg.com
CO: Women Presidents' Organization
ST: Louisiana
IN: FIN
SU: WOM ECO
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