WaldenSecurity

"NIFTY FIFTY": Women Entrepreneurs Lead Spikes in Sales and Growth

The Women President's Organization and America Express OPEN Name Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies: - Walden Security in 9th Spot
Vancouver, B.C. (April 28, 2011) – The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), in partnership with American Express OPEN, the small business division of American Express, today released the fourth ranking of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/led companies in North America.  The Top 50 generated a combined $4.1 billion in 2010 revenues (mean of $82.7 million) and collectively employed 24,650 in 2010 (projected average for 2011 is 557 employees). 

BrightStar, a home healthcare and medical staffing company based in Illinois, rose from the number two spot last year to top the list in 2011.  Shelly Sun, president and chief executive officer, who plans to take her business public, saw her nine-year-old company revenue quadruple in two years from $24,413,433 in 2008 to $99,142,249 in 2010.  Shelly attributes BrightStar’s use of social media as a significant factor in her company’s rapid revenue growth.  

Sierra Nevada Corporation, a Nevada-based electronic systems provider, is new to the list and comes in second both in growth and longevity (the business was founded in 1963).  The company has nearly doubled revenues ($690,000,000 in 2008 to $1,201,000,000 in 2010) and employment (1,183 in 2008, 2,067 in 2010 and 2,170 projected for 2011). 

Rose International, Inc., a contingent workforce services and IT solutions company based in Missouri, is the third fastest-growing company and also a newcomer to the annual ranking.  Himanshu Bhatia, owner and chief executive officer, has seen her business employment skyrocket (1,500 in 2008, 5,000 in 2010 and 6,500 projected for 2011) in addition to the company’s rapid revenue growth ($117,000,000 in 2008 to $230,000,000 in 2010).    

“The Top 50 list includes a group of trailblazing women entrepreneurs that represent a variety of industries ranging from staffing to electronic systems providers, language services to security,” said Marsha Firestone, Ph. D., president and founder of the WPO.  “We are pleased to partner with American Express OPEN to honor these powerful women and recognize their triumphs.” 

In order to help the Top 50 continue to seize even more business opportunities, each of the honored business owners will be offered a Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN.  The card will include 100,000 Membership Rewards® points, which may be used on capital investments including: the funding of employee recognition programs, business travel or the purchase of office equipment and supplies.

“Based on American Express OPEN’s ‘State of Women-Owned Businesses’ report, there are an estimated 8.1 million women-owned businesses in the United States, generating nearly $1.3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 7.7 million people,” said Nancy Hood, Vice President at American Express OPEN.  “We at OPEN are honored to support this elite group of women who diversify the full spectrum of industries and have become leaders within the women business community.” 

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 in the U.S. or Canada and have reached revenue of at least $500,000 by the first week of 2006 and $2 million in 2010.    

More about the 2011 Top 50:

• Founded the Business: 90%
• Current CEO is actively involved in the day-to-day operations: 100%
• Average years in business: 16
• Average age: 47
• Average Number of Projected 2011 Employees: 557

All 50 companies will be honored at a special event hosted by American Express OPEN at the 2011 WPO Annual Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on April 28, 2011. The awards reception will take place from 6:30PM to 9:30PM at the Fairmont Vancouver Hotel.

Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Include:

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 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 www.americanexpress.com and connect with us on www.facebook.com/americanexpress, www.twitter.com/americanexpress and www.youtube.com/americanexpress.

About Walden Security – Setting the Standard by Setting the Example™

Through a company-wide ISO® 9001:2008 Certified Quality Management System (QMS), Walden Security has earned an award-winning reputation for business excellence and employee satisfaction through the delivery of contract security services to commercial and government facilities. The fifteenth largest security firm in the nation, the WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) employs more than 3,000 armed and unarmed security professionals.  Walden Security is SAFETY Act designated and ranks among Inc. Magazine’s America’s Fastest Growing Companies. 

Contact Lauren S. Tudor Vice President of Marketing and Communications lauren.tudor@waldensecurity.com