Clickspeed
Gross Revenue: 2007: $7,313,056 2004: $775,520
Growth: 842.99% Full-time employees: 15
In the increasingly specialized business world, Clickspeed,
a full service interactive marketing agency based in Overland
Park, has zoomed in on “lead generation.” Matthew Kirk, CEO
and president, co-founded the company with partner Herb Sih
in 2003. Beginning with antiquated systems and manually
typed information, they rapidly brought their systems into the
21st century. “We created a solution to take data from multiple
sources, analyze it, and submit it to data buyers,” says Kirk.
The company gathers data from hundreds of affiliates, email
campaigns, their own website, and numerous other sources.
“Any known ways there are to acquire data,” says Kirk,
“we have tested or are doing.”
Worldwide Clinical Research
Gross Revenue: 2007: $3,715,559 2004: $431,891
Growth: 760.3% Full-time employees: 32
An aging population brings a growing need for new drugs, devices, and healthcare products in general, observes Barb Geiger, who founded Worldwide Clinical Research in 2001. The firm has emerged as one of the most respected clinical research and global management services companies in the industry. “As a service company to the biopharmaceuticals industry, we are poised in a perfect market,” Geiger notes. Although she encourages further growth, both in geographic locations and service offerings, her approach is thoughtful and cautious. “As we have grown we have been able to expand our services,” she notes, “but as a service
Proforma Promotionally Yours
Gross Revenue: 2007: $2,025,800 2004: $240,800
Growth: 741.28% Full-time employees: 3
In 2004, Jeff Levy left his job at a local advertising agency to
start Proforma Promotionally Yours, which creates promotional
products and provides print and e-solutions. With his advertising
background, Levy understood that much of his business
would come from referrals, but he wasn’t about to sit back and
wait for the phone to ring. “We have a clear understanding of
what people need out of promotional products,” he explains.
“Rather than waiting for people to call us, we are proactive
in calling them.” Currently, the company consists of Levy,
his partner Jeff Bowles, and a production manager. The company
plans to hire additional staff and acquire competitors.
Evolv Solutions, LLC
Gross Revenue: 2007: $9,822,901 2004: $1,178,554
Growth: 733.47% Full-time employees: 17
Back for the third year, Evolv Solutions, LLC continues to
expand its document management and information technology
offerings to major corporations. Ronald Harland, Sr., president
and founder, anticipates continued development in
all three business lines: document management, equipment
leasing, and electronic forms management. “While we expect
growth in our equipment leasing, we will also be expanding
and increasing revenue in document management,” comments
Harlan, Sr., who runs the company with his sons, Ronald Jr.
and Eric. Among the “solutions” Evolv offers is Evolv Financial
Services, which customizes financial packages based on
individual needs. Within the last year, Harlan has brought
on board EDOC, an electronic forms management service that
will help existing customers and bring in new ones.
WingGate Travel Inc.
Gross Revenue: 2007: $117,800,000
2004: $14,200,000
Growth: 729.58% Full-time employees: 67
When Young Sexton founded WingGate Travel in 1991, she
was admittedly new to the travel industry, but entirely eager.
“I really had a passion for travel,” she explains. Sexton started
the company to serve individuals and small businesses.
At the time, there was no Internet, and the consumer had to
go to an airline or a travel agency to make arrangements.
All that has evolved, but WingGate has stayed current. “Our
role has changed,” she says. “We provide overall management
consulting services to mitigate cost and add value.”
With a loyal group of individual and corporate clients,
WingGate also benefits from substantial contracts with the
Department of Defense.
Worldwide Wine and Spirits
Gross Revenue: 2007: $4,726,708 2004: $604,482
Growth: 681.94% Full-time employees: 16
After 28 years with 3M, Lyle Rolofson was considering
retirement. Instead, he became president of a rapidly growing
wholesale wine, spirits and beer distributorship called
Worldwide Wine and Spirits. In the process, he has enlisted his
two sons and daughter-in-law in critical roles within the company.
“I was pursuing a passion,” he says, “and we fit a niche.”
The company operates exclusively in the state of Kansas, selling
to retail stores, including bars and restaurants, from KCK
to the Colorado border. Rolofson began with smaller, familyowned
wineries but has moved into more established, recognizable
brands. Founded in 2001, the company is based in
Lenexa, where Meritex Caves make for natural wine storage.
BHC Rhodes
Gross Revenue: 2007: $7,950,866 2004: $1,054,009
Growth: 654.35% Full-time employees: 82
A civil engineering and surveying firm, BHC RHODES,
founded in 1992, makes its eighth appearance on the list.
“Locally and nationally there is a big opportunity for civil
engineers and surveyors due to major needs for infrastructure
upgrades and replacement” says Kevin Honomichl, president.
BHC RHODES has made the most of this opportunity by
guiding its clients through all phases of the planning, design
and construction process. The company has excelled,
Honomichl explains, due to a focus on customer service,
team building, and results. “By performing exceptionally
well, we retain customers and generate repeat business."
The staff of 82 is based in Overland Park and Kansas City, Kan.
The Astra Group
Gross Revenue: 2007: $35,452,369
2004: $6,777,590
Growth: 423.08% Full-time employees: 10
Making its fifth appearance on our list is the Astra Group,
which manages human resources for small to mid-sized businesses.
Shane Jones, CEO, created the Astra Group in 1999
with a founding philosophy that smaller businesses would be
best served by outsourcing human resources. As he saw it, the
professionals at the Astra Group, fully versed in rules and regulations,
could manage a company’s paperwork and procedures
more cost effectively than a company could itself. This
arrangement proved to decrease turnover and strengthen the
existing workforce for clients. According to Sara Jung, managing
partner, “premier customer service” and “value-added
services” have allowed the company to develop and retain
its customer base.
Goforth Construction, LLC
Gross Revenue: 2007: $29,700,000
2004: $5,927,000
Growth: 401.1% Full-time employees: 38
General contracting and commercial construction company
Goforth Construction is thriving. The business specializes in
hotels, retail work, and in developing its own real estate projects.
“Most of our growth has been from repeat customers,
people who have just found it a good time to grow and develop
their businesses and their real estate holdings,” says Phillip
Goforth, CEO. Within the last four months, the company has
opened an office in Colorado Springs. Locally, the company
just relocated its headquarters from Grandview to Mission.
“We are looking forward to working with more nationwide
developers who have projects anywhere in the country,”
adds Goforth. He expects to see to a diversification of locations
and, importantly, of revenue streams.