Winner: Creative Computer Solutions Inc.
Scott Huotari, president
37 percent revenue growth in 2008
When Scott Huotari started Creative Computer Solutions Inc. from his Vancouver home in 1998, he hoped for a long business life with steady growth. And that's what he got.
"It's a slow steady course and not taking a lot of risks with our customers," Huotari said. "In the high-tech world it's easy to see a lot of bright shiny things and jump at them. We're looking at how those bright shiny things can make our clients successful."
Today, Huotari and 10 employees work from a 3,300-square-foot facility. The business technology service company's revenue surpassed $1 million in 2008, up 37 percent from 2007. Huotari declined to share further revenue details.
In 2009, he projects growth of at least 30 percent with plans to offer six new solution-based product packages.
"It's been very managed growth," he said. "Some of the best advice I ever got was to make sure the company was self-sustaining."
The company started with 12 clients, and 10 of them are still on Huotari's customer list, which includes mostly small- to medium-size businesses.
"You'll always be successful when you have successful clients helping you," he said.
Along with tech services, CCSI gives community workshops on technology, marketing and small business management.
"We had so many great resources that were helping us succeed as a small business," said Vice President of Operations Sean Guerrero. "We thought, why would we not offer those resources to our clients?"
While Huotari has a conservative business approach, the staff has helped create a company reputation for enthusiasm and creativity. Employees compete with creative voicemail greetings and are known to remember their UPS deliveryman's birthday. And when they host an event, costumes are not uncommon.
"If you can make it fun and engaging and people can leave with some knowledge, they are more likely to come back," Guerrero said.
– Charity Thompson
Finalist: Electrix
Raymond Kelly, president
40 percent profit increase in 2008
In early 2008, Vancouver-based Electrix was on track for 25 percent annual growth. But with clients delaying projects in the recession, 2008 revenue was down about 23 percent from 2007. Employee numbers in 2008 were also down, from 145 in 2007 to 135.
But while that was happening, net profits were up 40 percent due to increased efficiencies, said Kymra Knuth, marketing and business development director.
The company expanded its services and geographic reach in 2008 with projects in Mississippi and Arkansas, and with Bellevue-based Reklaim Technologies Inc., which built a Boardman, Ore., tire processing facility that reclaims energy from recycled tires, and with large scale commercial solar power installations.
The company's renewable energy projects have included electrical work at other power generation plants as well as solar panel installations.
"These jobs map to our core expertise of challenging, technical projects," said President Ray Kelly in an email. "(Renewable energy) represents the biggest growth sector and vast opportunity for revenue growth."
Knuth said company leaders make a point of building experience in industries that are gaining momentum.
"It's about making sure we're watching these new emerging industries and being always on the forefront," she said.
Other Electrix clients include global technology, gasoline and aircraft companies as far away as Texas, Hawaii, Florida and Alaska.
The company improved its industry safety rating in 2008 and leaders continued work with the Columbia River Economic Development Council, the Northwest Consumer Construction Council and the Northwest Environmental Business Council.
In 2009, Kelly projects growth of 25 percent based on the company's current project backlog.
"We believe we have better people, better planning, better tools and better management, which lays the foundation for continued growth," Kelly said.
– Charity Thompson
Finalist: On Line Support Inc.
Eric Olmsted, owner
Revenue grew 33 percent in 2008
Vancouver-based On Line Support Inc. has built a business supporting small business.
The company provides computer network, Internet and technology consulting to clients from Eugene to Seattle.
In 2008, revenue increased 33 percent to $899,986, and the company – which was founded in 1998 – now employs eight full-time and one part-time worker.
Owner Eric Olmsted attributes the growth to customer relationships and strong referrals.
"When a customer refers us, that customer's reputation is on the line," he said. "We do a good job for them and us."
And the company looks at technology from a business perspective, Olmsted said.
"We look at what makes sense for small businesses, not just what's new and cool," he said. "They're not mutually exclusive, though."
When the dot-com bubble burst, On Line Support was about the size it is now and shrunk to bare bones proportions. Since then, it's slowly but surely built back up.
"My advice – don't give up," Olmsted said. "And don't panic. You're going to get really good news, and you can't celebrate it too much. You're going to get bad news, and you can't panic."
Going forward, the company will focus on expanding some products and diversification. It has started to work with larger companies, but Olmsted said the sweet spot is still small business.
While some of On Line Support's customers have satellite offices across the region and employees in Europe and Japan, the company has reduced its commute mileage by half.
"We do almost everything remotely," Olmsted said. "I call it the 100 millisecond commute. We want to be green and save some money."
In the recession, Olmsted said the company has been busy because other businesses need to save money and improving technology services such as eliminating waste in phone services, new servers and working remotely can help accomplish that.
– Megan Patrick-Vaughn
