Brian Scudamore is CEO of 1800GOTJUNK. Brian started the company at the age of 18, and later went on to franchise 1-800-GOT-JUNK? as a way to expand operations rapidly across North America. After several years of hypergrowth, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? now has over 300 locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
A leading entrepreneur, Brian has received wide recognition in the North American media and business community. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has been featured in over 3,000 news stories, including articles in Fortune Magazine, CNN, Business Week, and The Wall Street Journal. Crowning media achievements include an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2003, and repeated appearances on the Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray shows. Brian also contributes a monthly column to PROFIT Magazine.
In 2004, Brian was inducted into the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and served as a board member for the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization (YEO). Recently Brian was very honored to have been named the 2007 International Franchise Association’s Entrepreneur of the Year. He has also been recognized with a Fortune Small Business Best Bosses Award; been named a finalist in the past five years for Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award; and ranked in the Globe & Mail‘s 40 Under 40.
To listen to our interview with Brian please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – Brian Scudamore – 1800GOTJUNK – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Tom Walter is CEO of Tasty Catering. Tasty Catering plans and caters corporate events such as company picnics and fulfills other corporate catering needs for Chicago-area businesses and is ranked as a top 20 best place to work in the United States. Tasty Catering has been listed four times as an INC 5000 fastest growing company.
Tom has been an owner/operator in the food and beverage service industry for over 40 years. During this time period he has been a Partner, Principal, President and or CEO of 29 start up companies. He and his partners/brothers have also acquired three companies. There are currently 9 companies in operation; five were started by his staff. Tom is a recognized speaker about entrepreneurial topics and a board member of five Chicago area companies.
To listen to our interview with Tom please click here: Success Secrets of Americas Fastest Growing Companies – Tom Walter – Tasty Catering – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Mark Swanson is CEO of Telovations. Telovations designs, builds, and manages advanced communications networks for businesses. Mark grew Telovations revenue from $1,200,000 to $5,400,000 in less than three years.
Mark has over 20 years management experience in technology related organizations. He has founded and served as President/CEO of two IT services companies, both of which were successfully acquired by larger companies. Mark has an MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Under Mark’s leadership Telovations has experienced three year growth of 349%.
To listen to our interview with Mark please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – Mark Swanson – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Isaac Garcia is CEO of Central Desktop. Central Desktop provides a software-as-a-service (SaaS) social technology platform designed to allow business teams to interact, share, and manage their daily work activities. Central Desktop offers a comprehensive suite of online collaboration tools including wikis, file sharing, task management, web conferencing, online spreadsheets, shared calendars and micro-blogging. Isaac grew Central Desktop revenue from $768,000 to $3,600,000 in less than three years.
As co-founder and CEO of Central Desktop, Isaac oversees business strategy and sales for the company. Isaac has a proven record in both early-stage technology companies and enterprise sales & marketing. As a founding partner at Upgradebase, Isaac served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing where he oversaw all business development and sales for the company. Under Isaac’s leadership Central Desktop has experienced three year growth of 371%.
To listen to our interview with Isaac please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – Isaac Garcia Central Desktop – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Brett Beveridge is CEO of The Retail Outsource. The Retail Outsource provides a wide range of services to the retail industry, including consulting, outsourced staffing, managing and operations of retail locations, national field sales and management teams, comprehensive sales and operations training, IT systems and support including help desk and remote monitoring, and real estate strategy and execution to the retail industry. Brett grew The Retail Outsource revenue from $340,000 to $5,600,000 in less than three years.
Brett is an entrepreneurial, results-driven executive with over 20 years of experience and success in the wireless and technology industries. In various capacities, Brett has been directly involved with the development, opening and operating of over 1,000 retail communications stores nationwide, as well as the management of large-scale high performance field sales teams. In addition, he co-founded letstalk.com, currently America’s leading e-tailer of technology and wireless products and services. Brett has been a senior executive, consultant and vendor to Office Depot, Best Buy, CompUSA, Nextel, Sprint and RadioShack, among others. Under Brett’s leadership the Retail Outsource has experienced three year growth of 1,540%.
To listen to our interview with Mark please click here: Success Secrets of the Americas Fastest Growing Companies – Brett Beveridge – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer
Jeffrey Pearl is CEO of IP5280 Communications. IP5280 Communications is a global cloud-based IP communications company specializing in converged voice, video and data solutions for business. Jeffrey grew IP5280 Communications revenue from $1,600,00 to $7,100,000 in less than three years.
Jeffrey has over 22 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. He has been part of the industry’s evolution from Voice to Data to IP and Hosting and now Voice over IP. He has a proven track record of performance and leadership. Prior to co-founding IP5280, Jeffrey launched LineSider Communications in October 2004, a VoIP Service Provider specializing in policy-based secure IP communications. Under Jeffrey’s leadership IP5280 has experienced three year growth of 335%.
To listen to our interview with Jeffrey please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – Jeffrey Pearl IP5280 Communications – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Janine Popick is CEO of Vertical Response. Vertical Response provides self-service e-mail marketing, online surveys, and direct mail services to enable small businesses and nonprofits to create, share, and analyze their marketing campaigns. Janine grew Vertical Response revenue from $8,600,000 to $21,500,000 in less than three years.
a columnist for Inc.com and the Huffington Post, and has been featured in USA Today, Entrepreneur magazine, ClickZ, BtoB magazine, Selling Power magazine, San Francisco Business Times and Inside Direct Mail. She was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist from 2006 to 2009, and won the Stevie Award for Best Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Most recently, Janine won the U.S. Small Business Administration award for Small Business Person of the Year in San Francisco.
Janine brings over 20 years of experience leading direct and Internet marketing programs for some of the biggest brands in technology and entertainment. Prior to VerticalResponse, Janine led direct and Internet marketing programs for brands including NBC Internet; XOOM.com; Claris Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple Inc.; and Symantec Corporation. Under Janine’s leadership Vertical Response has experienced three year growth of 150%.
To listen to our interview with Janine please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – Janine Popick – Vertical Response – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Sam Feuer CEO of MindSmack. MindSmack.com and MindSmack.tv specialize in the highest level of interactive web design, flash, animation, 3d, ad design, video, post production and web development in the world. Sam grew MindSmack revenue from $123,000 to $2,900,000 in less than three years.
Sam has always been fascinated with the Internet and envisioning amazing possibilities for the web. In 1998, he began working for several successful internet startup companies. Within one year, he branched off to begin his own advertising and design agency in New York City. The company quickly experienced its ascent from an entrepreneurial venture into the global powerhouse of cutting-edge design, animation and programming that is MindSmack.com and MindSmack.tv. Under Sam’s leadership MindSmack has experienced three year growth of over 2,214%.
To listen to our interview with Sam please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – Sam Feuer MindSmack – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Doug Leeds is CEO of Storeboards. Storeboards is an in-store billboard network that owns the rights to the advertising space on the security pedestals of nearly 14,000 chain stores nationwide, including CVS, Rite Aid, and Duane Reade. Doug grew Storeboards revenue from $1,000,000 to $7,600,000 in less than three years.
Before founding StoreBoard Media LLC, Leeds was President and CEO of the award-winning point-of-purchase advertising firm, Thomson-Leeds Company. In 1967 the company was acquired by Ogilvy & Mather which subsequently was purchased by WPP Group. Leeds who continued as company President/CEO led a group in 1993 to successfully purchase Thomson-Leeds Company back from WPP. The company went on to win more awards for designing and producing outstanding merchandising programs than any company in the world. Under Doug’s leadership Storeboards has experienced three year growth of 623%.
To listen to our interview with Doug please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – Doug Leeds Storeboards – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
David Wachs is CEO of Cellit. Cellit is a mobile marketing company that handles text message campaigns, mobile Web development, and apps. The Cellit Studio campaign management platform empowers clients to create interactive mobile CRM programs including coupons, contests, games, surveys and alerts.. David grew Cellit revenue from $559,0,00 to $4,000,000 in less than three years.
Previous to launching Cellit, David worked as a financial analyst for Credit Suisse First Boston covering small-cap tech equities. David is a frequent speaker on mobile technology and has presented for the Direct Marketing Association, Advertising Research Foundation, and the National Restaurant Association. He holds a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School and a B.S.E. in Computer Science Engineering from the School of Engineering. Under David’s leadership Telovations has experienced three year growth of 610%.
To listen to our interview with David please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – David Wachs Cellit – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer
Scott Holec is CEO of eTERA Consulting. eTERA Consulting provides litigation and legal management consulting services to corporations and law firms. Scott grew eTERA Consulting revenue from $1,700,00 to $12,200,000 in less than three years.
Scott has more than 12 years of technology and project management experience involving legal document production. As president of eTERA Consulting, he frequently consults on large, complex litigation matters, with emphasis on developing the most cost-efficient methods for clients while maintaining the highest level of quality data. Under Scott’s leadership eTERA Consulting has experienced three year growth of 621%.
To listen to our interview with Scott please click here: Success Secrets of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – Scott Holec eTERA Consulting – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Nick Bock is CEO of Five Nines Technology Group. Five Nines Technology Group offers Managed Services, Networking, Security, Business Interruption, Storage, Development, Virtualization and Cisco Solutions. Nick grew Five Nines revenue from $603,074to $4,100,000 in less than three years.
Nick is a member of the Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40, and acts as the lead consultant for several of Five Nines largest clients. Under Nick’s leadership Five Nines has experienced three year growth of over 600%.
To listen to our interview with Nick please click here: Success Secrets of the INC 5000 CEOs – Nick Bock Five Nines – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Bob Zlotnik is CEO of Star-Tex Power. StarTex Power is the leading retail electricity provider in Texas and has been recognized as the company with the highest level of customer satisfaction among all electricity retailers in the state, according to a J.D. Power and Associates survey. Bob grew Star-Tex Power’s revenue from $4,800,000 to more than $400,000,000 in annual revenue in less than 5 years.
Bob has over 25 years of diversified business experience, primarily in service-related industries. Bob is responsible for the overall direction of StarTex Power, its long-term strategic goals, corporate finance and investor relations.
Prior to co-founding StarTex Power, Bob held executive and senior management roles in finance and accounting with PACE Entertainment (Clear Channel). Lifeco Travel Services/American Express and Ernst and Young.
Bob has been a guest speaker before the Texas Legislator’s House Regulated Industries Committee, Gulf Coast Power Association, and the Deutsche Bank Private Equity Conference. In 2008, he was named an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist for the Gulf Coast region.
To listen to our interview with Bob please click here: Bob Zlotnik – Star Tex Power– To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Jim Reavey is CEO of FM Facilities Maintenance. FM Facility Maintenance provides facility maintenance for clients with multisite restaurant and retail locations. FM Facilities Maintenance manages more than 25,000 customer locations nationwide, representing more than a million service requests annually. Just this year, FM finalized a deal to provide maintenance for all 6,200 of 7-Eleven’s corporate- and franchise-owned locations in the U.S. and Canada. Jim grew FM Facilities Maintenance revenue from $11,500,000 to $110,400,000 in three years. an amazing 906% increase.
As CEO Jim takes a primary role in the delivery of all aspects of FM Facility Maintenance’s Facility Maintenance made simple approach, including the implementation of the company’s Guaranteed Savings model.
Reavey brings over a decade of experience in operations and facility maintenance, most recently with Johnson Controls, a leader in building efficiency and power solutions. In his prior role, Reavey was Vice President and General Manager for Johnson Controls’ Retail/Multi-Site business, experience that relates closely to FM Facility Maintenance’s service offering to over 30,000 retail sites. Johnson Controls recorded revenue of over $34.5 billion in 2008.
Jim received his BSBA degree from Rockhurst University in Kansas City.
To listen to our interview with Jim please click here: Jim Reavey FM Facilities – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Drayton McLane, Jr. is an American entrepreneur and is #288 on the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. He serves as chairman of the McLane Group, L.P. and is the CEO of the Houston Astros Baseball Club. Throughout his lifetime, he has become known as an acclaimed businessman, leader, and extremely generous philanthropist.
The grandson of a successful entrepreneur, Mr. McLane experienced firsthand the hard work and dedication it takes to successfully thrive in industry. He began developing his tireless work ethic at age nine by working for his father at the family’s wholesale grocery business, the McLane Company. By earning the respect and admiration of his co-workers, he became president and CEO of the company in 1964 and held these positions for thirty years.
During his tenure, he propelled the McLane Company into a nineteen billion dollar company, achieving an average growth rate of thirty percent per year. Following the McLane Company’s merger with Wal-Mart, Inc. in 1990, he became vice-chairman of Wal-Mart while maintaining his positions at the McLane Company. After playing key roles in each of these companies’ growth and productivity he resigned in order to devote more time to the McLane Group, L.P., a parent company consisting of family owned companies operating throughout the world, and the Houston Astros where he has served as CEO since 1993.
To listen to our interview with Drayton please click here: Drayton McLane – The McLane Group – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer
Dennis Jarrett is CEO of Stratus Building Solutions. Stratus Building Solutions is an international building services company recognized as the fastest-growing company of its kind (#1 Fastest Growing Franchise, Entrepreneur Magazine, 2011). They are setting new standards in the building services and maintenance franchise industry by being the first to offer Green Cleaning janitorial, hygienic cleaning and sanitization, Private Line products and green consulting services. Dennis grew Stratus revenue from $15,200,000 to more than $100,000,000 in less than four years in the middle of the worst recession since the 1930s.
Stratus Building Solutions offers 16 different building service franchise plans providing state-of-the-art “environmentally green” cleaning systems, products, services, and marketing support. These include the “Stratus GreenClean” program which uses eco-friendly products and services to help sustain healthier, more productive facilities. The company’s franchise benefits include orientation and training; customer referrals; administrative and accounting support; pre-arranged credit lines; access to insurance and surety bonds; financing options; business reviews; promotional support; and other turn-key advantages. The firm’s headquarters are at 1976 Innerbelt Business Center Drive in suburban St. Louis, Missouri.
Stratus Building Solutions has Master Franchise operations in 23 states across the U.S., plus operations in Canada, Europe and Central America. In May 2010, Stratus Building Solutions was identified as the Number One Fastest-Growing Privately Owned Company in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal. In April 2010, Franchise Times Magazine identified Stratus Building Solutions among the top 50 fastest-growing franchises in the nation. The January 2010 edition of Entrepreneur Magazine ranks Stratus Building Solutions the Number One New Franchise, the Number Three Fastest-Growing Franchise and Number 13 Overall in its 2010 Franchise 500© rankings.
To listen to our interview with Dennis please click here: Dennis Jarrett – Stratus Building Solutions– To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer
Ben Trowbridge is CEO of Alsbridge. Alsbridge offers project management, business process outsourcing, benchmarking, and IT staffing to achieve cost savings for companies with more than $2 billion in revenue. Ben grew Alsbridge revenue from $1,900,000 to $33,100,000 in less than four years.
Ben is renowned for his forward thinking and collaborative approaches to deal structuring and sourcing techniques that have redefined the development, negotiation and implementation process. Prior to Alsbridge, Ben served as the CEO of United Messaging,
Prior to United Messaging Ben served as Managing Partner for Ernst & Young’s Outsourcing Services Business and COO for their Global Outsourcing Business. He was instrumental in leading the Global Outsourcing Business from what was a start-up business to maturity. While directing the activities of the overall group,
Ben personally led and directed two of the firm’s largest outsourcing relationships, with a total contract value of over $4 billion. Ernst & Young’s outsourcing business, along with the majority of the global consulting business, was purchased by Cap Gemini (Bourse-de-Paris: CAP) in 2000 in a multi-billion Euro transaction.
To listen to our interview with Ben please click here: Ben Trowbridge Alsbridge – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Jon Morris is CEO of Rise Interactive. Chicago-based Rise Interactive provides a comprehensive array of Internet marketing services for large and mid-sized companies. From search engine marketing and SEO to creative development and Web analytics, Rise’s team of Internet marketing professionals in Chicago deliver tailored services to meet companies online marketing needs. Jon grew Rise Interactive revenue from $348,000 to $2,600,000 in less than three years, a 658% increase.
With more than a decade’s worth of digital marketing experience, Jon launched Rise interactive in Chicago in 2004. Since its inception the company has seen triple digit growth every year. Prior to the inception of Rise, Jon Morris managed the Internet Marketing department for Ketchum Directory Advertising, an Omnicom Company, from January 2002 to June 2003, where his group’s clients included Allstate Insurance, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Kinko’s, Delta Airlines and Best Western. During this time, Morris was given three industry excellence awards by the Yellow Pages Integrated Media Association.
In 1996, Jon Morris obtained his Bachelors degree in Economics from Kenyon College. Three years later, he was named one of Chicago’s top 30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by the Chicago Sun-Times. Morris completed his MBA with high honors from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business in 2005, and was the recipient of the Outstanding Academic Award for graduating first in his class.
To listen to our interview with Jon please click here: Jon Morris – Rise Interactive – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer
Ryan Abood is CEO of GourmetGiftBaskets.Com. GourmetGiftBaskets.com sells gourmet food and beverage gift baskets online. All gift baskets are produced in their facility in Manchester, New Hampshire. Major holidays and life events have their own specific gift basket offerings, but the selection also includes theme baskets such as fruit, golf, snack, breakfast, French/Paris, and chocolate. Ryan grew revenue from $623,000 to $8,700,000 in less than three years, an amazing 1,288% increase!
After graduating from the College of Charleston (S.C.) in 2002, Abood, 30, set out to grow his family’s Chalifour’s Flowers, Gift and Gourmet by expanding into Internet sales. His biggest current challenge is to transition GourmetGiftBaskets.com from a large “small business,” to a medium-size company. The way you think and operate is completely different, and the structure of the organization needs to change to ensure the company stays healthy. In September 2010 he broke the Guinness World Record for the largest cupcake to raise money to fight breast cancer.
To listen to our interview with Ryan please click here: Ryan Abood– To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer.
Andrew Coleman is CEO of LeadQual. LeadQual generates, qualifies, and converts Internet leads through search engine optimization and marketing and affiliate marketing services to increase ROI, lead conversion, customer satisfaction, and sales force effectiveness for its customers, which include Embassy Suites, Wyndham Capital Mortgage, and AviationSchoolsOnline.com. Andrew grew LeadQaul revenue from $347,000 to $6,800,000 in less than three years in the middle of a recession.
Andrew Coleman is widely known as one of the leading authorities on Search Engine Marketing. Prior to starting LeadQual, Andrew served as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Finance at HomeGain.com, the second largest real estate site on the web.
During his six years at HomeGain, Andrew led HomeGain’s multi-million dollar SEM ad spend generating over 4 Million unique users from over 1 Million unique keywords, thousands of affiliates and hundreds of integrated partners.
Under Andrew’s leadership, HomeGain became known as an undisputed industry leader in SEM strategies and tactics. Classified Ventures, acquired HomeGain in July 2005, to add to their growing list of leading Internet properties, including Cars.com, and Apartments.com.
He began his career at Price Waterhouse where he served in the audit and consulting practices. Andrew, a CPA, holds an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BS from the University of Vermont.
To listen to our interview with Andrew please click here: Andrew Coleman of LeadQual – To download the interview for future listening please right mouse click on the link, then select “save as” and download to your computer
