In any year, being named to the Future 50 list is a remarkable achievement. To be named to the list of the fastest-growing companies in southeastern Wisconsin in the midst of The Great Recession is a Herculean feat.
In 2009, the Future 50 companies are projecting 6-percent annual average revenue growth and universally plan to add to staff in the coming year.
While most businesses in the region are “taking a haircut,” as the saying goes, this year’s Future 50 companies are recession-proof – at least to this point.
This is the 22nd year the Future 50 list has been compiled by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) and its Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE).
Several of this year’s winning companies are in “clean and green” markets. Indeed, that’s where a lot of the nation’s future economic growth will come from.
Manufacturers and technology companies each make up about 20 percent of the list, while a variety of other services account for the largest percentage – 36 percent.
“The Future 50 list is a representative sample of the Milwaukee region’s business strengths,” said Tim Sheehy, president of the MMAC. “These companies point to where our economy is headed and with a strong mix of traditional and emerging industries, we are headed in the right direction.”
Companies must submit an application to be considered for the Future 50 and meet the criteria of having local headquarters (within the seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin); independent ownership; and strong growth in revenue and employment.
Combined, this year’s Future 50 class had a total employment of 4,037 jobs and $621 million in revenue by year-end 2008 – a 39 percent increase over their combined revenue for 2007. Half the winners are being recognized for the first-time (companies can win the award up to three times). Ten of this year’s companies have been named to the list for the third time, meaning they have attainted Master Mettle status.
Bonus coverage: What are the best practices the Future 50 companies are using to survive – and even thrive – in the recession? We’ve captured them in a special online report at www.biztimes.com/survive09.
Click the links below to read the profiles of the 2009 Future 50 winners.
- Abri Health Plan
- Affinity, Inc.
- Alpha Source Inc.
- BC Adhesives
- Boyle Fredrickson S.C.
- Carl Krueger Construction Inc.
- Central Office Systems
- Commerce State Bank
- Cross Towne Machining
- Everything2go.com LLC
- Executive Benefits Network
- Fabricated Metal Products
- Fi-Med Management, Inc.
- First Edge Solutions
- Franklin Energy Services, LLC
- Fullhouse
- Heritage Printing
- InfoCor, LLC
- InPro Corporation
- Interra Health, Inc.
- Jefferson Electric
- KS Energy Services Inc.
- LandWorks Inc.
- Learning Exchange
- MARS IT Corp.
- MasterLink Corporation
- Metal-Era Inc.
- Milwaukee Bearing & Machining
- New Resources Consulting
- The Penebaker Enterprises Llc
- Red Anvil LLC
- Retail Maintenance Service Inc.
- S3 International LLC
- Schroeder Solutions
- Security Personnel Inc.
- Solaris Inc.
- Stamm Technologies Inc.
- Symmetry Corporation
- TLX Technologies
- Thin Air Software LLC
- Triad Construction Inc.
- Trissential
- Uihlein Electric Company Inc.
- Velcheck & Finger Roof Consulting & Service
- WFA Staffing Group
- Waterstone HR
- Weather Tight Corp.
- Wireless Logic Inc.
- Wixon
- Zeon Solutions Inc.
