“We work with clients from concept to completion,” said Curtis “We understand their likes, dislikes, wants, needs, and design tailored systems for their lifestyle.”
By providing “professional lifestyle technology solutions,” said Curtis, his goal is to make sophisticated electronic systems and make them simple to use.
During the next 48 months, the company plans to expand to a total of three locations in the Southwest Washington and Portland metro area.
Mill Creek Pub
“Even if you don’t think you have time, get involved,” said Russell Brent, owner of Mill Creek Pub. “Everything I’ve given, I’ve gotten back ten-fold. Take a leap of faith and it all comes back.”
That commitment to community support, Brent said, has been one of the main drivers of his pub’s meteoric success. It is also why, for the second year in a row, his business is in the running for a Business Growth Award.
Since opening its doors in Battle Ground near the end of 2011, Mill Creek Pub has created approximately 47 new jobs. Gross sales for the restaurant increased 28 percent from 2012 to 2013. Because of increased gross sales and effective cost management, the eatery has experienced a more than 30-percent increase in gross profit over the last year – nearly ten times the 3.8 percent national growth average for 2013 as reported in the recently released Restaurant Industry Forecast.
Over the next few years, Brent said, the pub plans to “continue to grow our business through community involvement, expand our off-site catering and add breakfast as a meal period.”
Fastest Growing Company 1-5 Years Finalists
Ginn Realty Group
In a challenging real estate market, Ginn Realty Group is experiencing impressive growth – from a handful of projects in 2010, to 240 closings in 2013, to 30 projects so far in 2014.
In appreciation for the community’s support, the company launched Ginn Gives in 2013, which donates 5 percent of gross commissions to local community projects.
Steve Studley, Ginn Realty Group marketing manager, said that as they grow, they don’t want to “lose sight of what has brought us success – a high-touch approach.” To address that challenge, the firm has grown from three employees to 10 in the last three years, and plans to open an office in the Pearl District soon.
The company’s sales net income grew 1,013.99 percent the first year, 23.73 percent the second year, and 21.95 percent this past year. Company assets have grown 197.61 percent since 2010.
The real estate industry has taken notice – Ginn’s Bella Ridge development hosted the 2013 Parade of Homes, they were named the top selling realtor in all of RMLS three years running, and the Wall Street Journal & Real Trends ranked the firm #94 for 2012 closed transactions and #122 for 2012 sales volume.
Protech Composites Inc.
Local manufacturer Protech Composites Inc. specializes in carbon fiber, an extremely strong but lightweight material that is rapidly gaining popularity across multiple industries.
Jeff Olsen and Michelle Fennimore bought Protech Composites in 2010. Since that time, the company’s total sales were up 32 percent 2010-2011, 28 percent 2011-2012, 57 percent 2012-2013, and 80 percent so far in 2014. ProTech staff has grown, too – the firm added five employees in 2013 and has hired three people this year, bringing the team total to eight.
Fennimore, the firm’s vice president, said that hiring a business coach has been instrumental in their success, and they recommend young businesses hire such a coach “as soon as possible, or earlier.”
“We wouldn’t be where we are without our business coach,” said Fennimore.
Company president Olsen said the company is now at 100-percent capacity in their 5,000-square-foot facility in Orchards. Raw material acquisition can be challenging, and customers who have been used to same-day or next-day shipping may now need to wait one to two weeks.
“So the question becomes,” said Olsen, “where do we go from here?” He anticipates that Protech will either buy a new building or construct their own in the near future.
Webfor
In the running for the fastest-growing young business in Clark County for the second year in a row, Webfor’s 2013 revenue represents a 71 percent increase in revenue over 2012, with a 26 percent profit margin.
The digital marketing company’s continued success, said Kevin Getch, Webfor president, results from a focus on “the three Rs” – relationships, results and return on investment. As the company has grown, he said they have extended that same philosophy to the local community.
“We believe our relationship with the local business community is critical to a mutually beneficial and sustainable growth,” said Getch. Putting his money where his mouth is, Getch has implemented a paid volunteering program so that employees can take two paid days a year to volunteer at local charities.
Webfor hired four full-time employees in 2013, bringing their total to 11, and plans to hire three or four more employees in 2014. To accommodate the growing team, the company moved about a year ago to new digs at the EastRidge Business Park, nearly doubling their square footage.
Next: Fastest Growing Company 6-10 Years
{jathumbnail off}
