| Businesses honored for being at the top of their game
By MAGGIE KIELY
maggie.kiely@theeagle.com
Lifetime Business Achievement Award winner Kenneth Lawson (left), owner of C.C. Creations, and Fastest Growing Brazos Valley Business Award winner Mike McAleer of Brazos Technology stand with awards at the Newman 10 Awards ceremony Wednesday in the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in College Station.
Some of the area's most successful business owners and their employees joined community leaders Wednesday at the College Station Hilton Hotel and Conference Center to honor 10 of the fastest-growing local companies during the Bryan Rotary Club Newman 10 Awards.
The awards were established in 1994 to recognize small businesses with a positive economic impact in the community.
To qualify, businesses had to have a sales profit of more than $50,000 but less than $25 million in fiscal year 2005, and gross sales had to increase annually from 2007 through 2009. Only businesses nominated and who applied for the award were eligible to win.
With a sales growth of 358.16 percent in three years, Brazos Technology was named the fastest-growing business among the applicants. The business creates mobile technology applications for law enforcement and emergency responders.
Owner Mike McAleer launched his company in 2000, and in 2003 had three police departments using his services. Today, 140 police departments in seven states use his products, and the company has 18 employees.
"The difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful one is ongoing support," McAleer said. "From very early on, we said that was going to be something in our control, and we strive every day to provide the best customer support."
His business relies on customer references instead of advertising, he said.
The other nine winners were:
* The Ground Crew LLC: founded in 2005; sales growth of 242.01 percent. Owners Scott Kenley and Zach Potts design, build and maintain landscapes for residential homes and commercial clients. A crew of 27 make up the company, and the owners said high-quality service is a key to their success.
* Brazos Valley Hearing Services: founded in 1980; sales growth of 150.43 percent. Ronny Baker, the owner and the company's only employee, previously provided hearing services to several surrounding counties but decided to focus his business in Brazos County to provide top-quality service to customers. One of Baker's customers asked to be buried with his hearing aids because they had improved his life so much.
* Chrome: A Salon Experience: founded in 2000; sales growth of 105.81 percent. Owner Charlotte Green has grown the company to include 21 employees, and the business has been recognized as a REDKEN 5th Avenue Elite Salon. The business specializes in hair color and design, as well as facial waxing and make-up.
* Ed Slovacek CPA: founded in 1974; sales growth of 98.99 percent. Slovacek has five employees who provide tax, accounting and consultation services to Brazos Valley clients. Slovacek credited his clients for much of his success and said he strives to form partnerships with everyone he works with.
* JB Knowledge Technologies Inc.: founded in 2001; sales growth of 95.06 percent. James Benham serves as president, and his father, Jim Benham, as vice president. JB Knowledge has 35 employees who focus on Web and graphic design, software development, 3D animation and more.
* Fifth 'C' Fine Jewelry: founded in 1997; sales growth of 76.93 percent. Owners Chuck and Lori Konderla meet with clients by scheduled appointment so the jewelers can provide the most appropriate piece for each customer, and many of the pieces are custom-designed.
* Expressions Dance and Music: founded in 1989; sales growth of 72.46 percent. Paul and Lynsey Dorsett said a key to their business success has been never borrowing money. Their 22 employees provide dance instruction in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, drill and competitive, contemporary, as well as music lessons for piano, guitar, voice, drums and violin.
* Ashford Square Realty LLC: founded in 1982, sales growth of 70.34 percent. The company has 12 real estate brokers and 41 employees and was created to let brokers share operating expenses while operating as individual business owners. Principal brokers are Laurie Brown, Craig Browne, Brad Corrier, Juanita Corrier, Jennifer Fredericks, Connie Hearne, Janet Higgins, Myrna Hughes, Kathy Mayfield, Dorothy Toler, Brandi Ring-Cooper and Margie Stibora.
* Venus Pest Co.: founded in 2001; sales growth of 59.76 percent. Owner Scott Lingren started getting to know pests when he was 10 years old working with his father in research. He and his five employees take a scientific approach to eliminating insects and other pests, a process that emphasizes not relying on pesticides and chemicals.
In addition, C.C. Creations Ltd. was awarded the Anco Insurance Lifetime Achievement for its continued business success, customer service and financial growth within the community. The custom screen printing and embroidery company has more than 150 employees, is the largest company in the industry for Texas and 11th in the nation.
The Research Valley Partnership presented Mark Leon with the Commercialization Rising Star Award for his innovation and involvement in technology commercialization.
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