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According to a recent ranking of women-led companies, the 50 fastest-growing businesses with women at the helm grossed $2.3 billion in 2009 and all but 4% plan to hire this year.
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According to a recent ranking of women-led companies, the 50 fastest-growing businesses with women at the helm grossed $2.3 billion in 2009 and all but 4% plan to hire this year.The Women President's Organization (WPO) released it's ranking of the 50 fastest-growing women led businesses in North America today. This is the third such ranking released by the WPO and SMB-centric American Express OPEN. To be ranked, businesses not only had to be privately held and women-owned or women-led, but also had to have booked revenues of at least $500,00 by the first week of 2005 and at at least $2 million by 2009. The rankings were established by a formula that combined percentage and absolute growth.
Having demonstrated, at a minimum, an almost five year track record, none of these companies are startups or fly by night organizations. Moreover, more than 10% play in the IT/technology/online space. That's a potentially welcome data point in the wake of a recent New York Times story chronicling the challenges women face in Silicon Valley. The piece noted that women account for only 6% of the CEOs at the top 100 tech companies and 22% of software engineers at tech companies and that despite woman-owning 40% of all private businesses in the US, women account for only 8% of venture-backed startups.
Commenting on the rankings, WPO founder and president Marsha Firestone, said, "The Top 50 list exemplifies the vital role women business owners have on boosting the economy and enhancing job growth overall." To that, Nancy Hood, vice president at American Express OPEN added, "There are 10 million women-owned businesses in the US that employee over 13 million people and generate nearly $2 trillion in annual sales."
In addition to the rankings, the business were surveyed about the reasons for their success. Not surprisingly, leadership (64%) and skilled teams (78%) were cited as the most critical factors. More than half (56%) noted lower sales due to economic conditions as the biggest challenge and, in a welcome dash or optimism, almost all (96%) indicated they plan to add employees this year.
So who are these leaders and the businesses they lead? See for yourself.
Beatriz Manetta of Argent Associates, Inc. (NJ, Supply Chain Management)
Shelly Sun of BrightStar Care (IL, Staffing services)
Ranjini Poddar of Artech Information Systems LLC (NJ, IT Consulting)
Gail Warrior-Lawrence of Warrior Group (TX, Premier construction services)
Elizabeth Elting of TransPerfect (NY, Language services provider)
Amy Gonzales of AK Environmental, LLC (NJ, Consulting firm)
Fran Lessans of Passport Health (MD, Provider of travel medical services)
Hallie Satz of HighRoad Press (NY, Printing solution)
Vicki Raport of Quantum Retail Technology, Inc. (MN, Software solutions)
Elaine Osgood of Atlas Travel International (MA, Full-service travel agency)
Sue Butler of Butler/Till Media Services, Inc (NY, Media agency)
Dr. Padma Allen of Technodyne LLC (NJ, High-end technology solutions)
Jill E.M. Kusic Esq. of NRA Group LLC d/b/a National Recovery Agency (PA, Revenue Recovery Services)
Cheryl Lang of Integrated Mortgage Solutions (TX, Collateral protection resources)
Tomima Edmark of Andra Group (TX, Online lingerie store)
Jeni Bogdan of The Saxon Group, Inc (GA, Heavy industrial construction)
Carol Koffinke of Beacon Associates, Inc (MD, Consulting and program support)
Vickie Wessel of Spirit Electronics, Inc (AZ, Supply-chain solutions)
Magdalah Silva of DMS International (MD, Management, consulting training)
Anjali Ramakumaran of Ampcus Inc (VA, Biz, tech, engineering solutions)
Stephanie Point of Point 2 Point Global Security, Inc (MD, Security patrols services)
Carole Borden of C.B. Transportation, Inc (PA, Transportation management)
Nicole Geller of Government Contract Solutions (VA, Professional services and solutions)
Susan A. Morano of Suzanne's Specialties, Inc (NJ, Makes Organic Sweeteners)
Cynthia B. Kaye of Logical Choice Technologies, Inc (GA, Promethean integration & training)
Francine Farkas Sears of Fabrique Ltd (CT, Design & Make accessory case)
Min Cho of Nova Datacom (VA, Information assurance)
Lee Ann Cochran of Cochran Electric (WA, Electrical contractor)
Donna K. Alligood of Knowledge Link Incorporated (VA, Information technology services)
Dr. Ellen H. Yankellow of Correct Rx Pharmacy Services, Inc (MD, Pharmaceuticals)
Cynthia J. Pasky of Strategic Staffing Solutions (MI, onsulting and staff augmentation)
Pamela O'Rourke of Icon Information Consultants (TX, Recruiting)
Katherine Dietzen of MedEdNow, LLC (NY, Medical education communications)
Elizabeth Williams of Roxbury Technology Corp (MA, Remanufacturer/distributor of ink)
Sonu Ratra of Akraya, Inc. (CA, Staffing)
Melissa Cather-Thiede of ProActive Solutions, Inc (KS, IT services and solutions)
Lori Matthews of Isoflex (CA, Distributor of stable isotopes)
Liz Lasater of Red Arrow Logistics (WA, Transportation provider)
Jennifer Scully of Clinical Resources LLC (GA, Staffing firm)
Wendi Goldsmith of Bioengineering Group (MA, Ecological restoration)
Laura K.T. Schriver of Language Services Associates (PA, Foreign language communication)
Priti Parikh of Sweta systems Inc (AZ, Tech Consulting services)
Lisa Moore Turano of Providus (TX, Legal Staffing)
Sherry S Deutschmann of LetterLogic, Inc (TN, Manufactures mail, letters)
Danielle Waske of DNT Environmental Services Inc (GA, Contracting specialty)
Juli Spottiswood of Parago (TX, Rewards-based incentive solutions)
Noreen Guanci of Long Term Solutions (MA, Elder care coordination & support)
Maria D Bradley of Benefit Express Services, LLC (IL, Admin and enrollment services)
Kiran Gill of PARS Environmental, Inc (NJ, Environmental consulting firm)
Heidi Ganahl of Camp Bow Wow (CO, Pet care franchise)
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