NEWS RELEASE

May 1 After 9:00 P.M.
Media Contact: Cyndi Miracle
(804) 691.5663

VIRGINIA CHAMBER ANNOUNCES "FANTASTIC 50" COMPANIES for 2008

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce has announced the names of the companies who made the 2008 "Fantastic Fifty" list of 50 of the fastest-growing companies in the state. The companies, whose products and services ranged from biometrics used to track terrorists to transformers, were saluted at the annual awards banquet held at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly on May 1.

“From Wytheville to Chesapeake and from Fairfax to Virginia Beach, the Fantastic 50 companies represent the diversity and vibrancy of small businesses throughout Virginia, said Hugh Keogh, President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber. Their entrepreneurial spirit fuels the economic engine of the Commonwealth.”

The ceremony also recognizes the companies with the highest growth rates in five categories with the Virginia Vanguard Awards. This year the Virginia Vanguard winner for Highest Growth Overall is Oberon Associates, Inc. of Manassas. Oberon, who specializes in providing engineering and IT services to the U.S. military, topped the list with an amazing growth rate of 4731% over a four year period (2003 to 2006). The Virginia Vanguard winner’s list also included: Technology: Ace Info Solutions Inc. of Reston, an IT consulting firm that designs and maintains computer software; Manfacturing: Service Center Metals in Prince George, a top player in the aluminum extrusion market; Service: TRINITY Construction Group Inc., a commercial construction company based in Herndon; and Retail/Wholesale: Dominion Equipment Parts LLC in Ashland, a distributor of mini-excavators.

Syndicated columnist, Verne Harnish delivered the keynote remarks at the event. Harnish is founder of two world-renowned entrepreneurship organizations, the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization (YEO) and the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs (ACE). He is also presently founder and CEO of Gazelles, Inc., which serves as an outsourced corporate university for mid-size firms.

The Fantastic 50 award program is sponsored by the Virginia Chamber, Virginia Business Magazine, Goodman & Company, SunTrust Bank, Westfields Marriott, Alion Science & Technology, SAIC, In Your Ear Creative Post and VisualCV, Inc.

Nominations for the Fantastic 50 were sought statewide from local chambers, economic development organizations, small business development centers and through the sponsors’ networks. Companies could also nominate themselves. To be eligible, companies were required to be privately held, with headquarters in Virginia, and to show sales between $200,000 and $100 million. They were judged on a four-year sales revenue history. Verification of all award entries was conducted by the accounting firm of Goodman and Company.

The list of Fantastic 50 winners by numerical ranking follows:

Virginia’s Fantastic 50 Winners for 2008

1. Oberon Associates Inc., Manassas
2. TRINITY Group Construction Inc., Herndon
3. T-Solutions Inc., Chesapeake
4. Service Center Metals, Prince George
5. Executive Protection Systems, Winchester
6. Ace Info Solutions Inc., Reston
7. Kadix Systems, Arlington
8. Competitive Innovations LLC, Fairfax
9. Advanced Systems Inc., Fairfax
10. Customer Value Partners, Fairfax
11. Capterra, Arlington
12. Cascades Technologies Inc., Herndon
13. Webster Data Communication Inc., Fairfax
14. Automation Technologies Inc, Vienna
15. RNB Technologies Inc., Arlington
16. PRO-telligent LLC, Arlington
17. International Communications Group, Newport News Beach
18. Rocket Direct Communication Inc., Virginia Beach
19. Ventera Corporation, Reston
20. Ironworks Consulting LLC, Glen Allen
21. V2 Systems Inc., Manassas
22. Tauri Group LLC, Alexandria
23. XIO STRATEGIES INC, McLean
24. ActioNet Inc., Fairfax
25. Electronic Consulting Services Inc. (ECS), Fairfax
26. Imagine One Technology & Management Ltd., Colonial Beach
27. Preferred Systems Solutions Inc., McLean
28. Universal Consulting Services Inc., Fairfax
29. The Goal Inc., Ashburn
30. Bay Electric Co. Inc., Newport News
31. Dominion Equipment Parts LLC, Ashland
32. Apex-2000 Inc., Chantilly
33. Financial Investments Inc., Herndon
34. National Corporate Housing, Herndon
35. Adaptive Technologies Inc., Blacksburg
36. Fortessa, Sterling
37. Liberty Tax Service, Virginia Beach
38. AdvanceTEC LLC, Richmond
39. Innovative Wireless Technologies, Arlington
40. Gibbs & Cox Inc., Arlington
41. The Kerner Group, Williamsburg
42. Mid Atlantic Vinyl Products Inc., Fredericksburg
43. MTC Transformers, Wytheville
44. Kearney & Company, Alexandria
45. RightMinds Inc., Richmond
46. Coresix Precision Glass Inc., Williamsburg
47. Access Systems Inc., Reston
48. Todo Inc.; t/a Todos Supermarket, Woodbridge
49. Amthor International, Gretna
50. Dynamic Systems Technology Inc. (DSTI), Fairfax

back