Business & Tech

Alpharetta's Edge Solutions No. 3 on Inc. 500 List

Alpharetta companies VDart, EndoChoice and The Pedowitz Group also made it on the magazine's list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies.

UPDATED 3:30 p.m. with more local companies' comments.

Edge Solutions of Alpharetta is No. 3 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in the country.

The company's three year growth has been 21,036 percent. Revenue in 2008 was just $103,070, but last year it had ballooned to $21.8 million.

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Twenty one employees work for the IT services company. It ranks first in its industry on the Inc. magazine list.

The company's CEO and cofounder, Julie Ison Haley, is active in the community as well. She was recently .

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VDart of Alpharetta was the next highest IT company on the list at No. 245. It had 1,467 percent growth from 2008 to 2011, with revenue at $771,815 and growng to $12.1 million in 2011. Most of the 239 employees have worked their three years or less, because the company added 198 jobs in the past three years. It was founded in 2007.

Alpharetta-based EndoChoice Inc. has been recognized by Inc. Magazine in this year's annual Inc. 500, which ranks of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The company ranks No. 255 in overall growth and 19th in the healthcare category. It's the third year the company made the list.

EndoChoice is a platform technology company providing devices, diagnostics and procedural support for specialists treating a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases. Launched in 2008, EndoChoice is headquartered in Alpharetta, Marketwire reports.

"I attribute our growth to extraordinary people who embody our corporate culture," said EndoChoice CEO and Founder Mark Gilreath in the release. "Their dedication and willingness to go 'above and beyond' helps our valued customers provide the best quality of care for their patients. I am grateful every day that I have the privilege of working with this talented team." 

Also on the Inc. 500 is The Pedowitz Group of Alpharetta, coming in at No. 474. Its three-year growth of 811 percent took it from $916,812 in 2008 up to $8.4 million three years later. Most of the 42 jobs were created in those three years, with 37 added. Founded in 2007, it is an advertising and marketing firm.

“Being an Inc. 500 company is a major accomplishment, especially given today’s challenging marketplace,”  said Jeff Pedowitz, founder and president of Pedowitz Group, a full service Revenue Marketing Agency that helps clients transform marketing organizations from cost centers to revenue centers.

“This is the first year we were eligible to compete for the Inc. 500/5000 and to come in at the top tier is immeasurably rewarding,” Pedowitz said.

ClearStar, a background check technology and service provider, was No. 2,708 on the Inc. 500 list. It was the fifth year the Alpharetta company has been listed, putting it on Inc.'s honor roll.

“During this period of record unemployment rates, HR executives are putting immense pressure on their service partners to provide added-value,” said Robert J. Vale Jr., CEO of ClearStar, in a news release. “We’ve responded – and been rewarded – for delivering flexible technology and intuitive services to our partners, employers and end user consumers of background screening information.

“Not many companies have the stamina to be listed five times in a row,” said Vale in the company's release. “This is a testament to the concerted efforts of our clients, strategic partners and the ClearStar team.”

What Alpharetta and Milton businesses on the Inc. 500/5000 are missing from the list below? Let me know and I'll add them here.

Other local companies on the Inc. 500/5000 list include:

Burton Energy Group – No. 733 on the list, it had 476 percent growth. Revenue rose from $426,045 in 2008 to $2.5 million. Employees: 18 (16 added in the past three years). Founded: 2001. Energy. Industry rank: No. 31.

Assurance Forensic Accounting – No. 798. 428 percent growth, from $1.7 million to $9.2 million in three years. Employees: 31 (22 added in three years). Founded: 2004. Financial Services. Industry rank: No. 48.

Contact at Once – No. 820. 416 percent growth, from $1.2 million to $6.4 million. Employees: 51 (Jobs added, 38). Founded: 2005. Software. Industry rank: No. 67.

Pure Marketing Group –No. 1189. 264 percent growth, from $1.2 million to $4.4 million. Employees: 8 (4 jobs added in 3 years). Founded: 2006. Business Products & Services. Industry rank: 76.

IPG – 1357. 225 percent growth, from $10.9 million to $35.4 million. Employees: 93 (73 jobs added in past three years). Founded: 2004. Health. Industry rank: No. 100.

Elgia – No. 1804. 156 percent growth, from $1.3 million to $3.3 million. Employees: 52 (27 jobs added in three years). Founded: 2001. Business Products & Services. Industry rank: No. 132

Better World Books – No. 2022, but No. 98 in retail. 132 percent growth. 2008 revenue: $24.7 million. 2011 revenue: $57.3 million. Employees: 346 (69 jobs added in past three years). Founded 2002.

Next Step Learning –No. 2215. 115 percent growth, revenue rising from $6.5 million in 2008 to $13.9 million in 2011. 70 employees (42 added in past three years). Founded 1998. Education. Industry rank: No. 44.

The Rainmaker Group – No. 2222. 115 percent growth. Revenue up from $7.5 million in 2008 to $16.1 million in 2008. 63 employees (23 added in past 3 years). Software. Industry rank: No. 164.

Clear Star – No. 2708. 86 percent growth. Revenue up from $2.7 million to $5.1 million. Employees: 26 (13 jobs added in 3 years). Founded: 1995. Human Resources. Industry rank: No. 84

Dodge Communications – No. 4479. 22 percent growth. Revenue from $3.4 million to $4.2 million. Employees: 29 (11 added in 3 years). Founded: 2001. Adversiting & Marketing. Industry rank: No. 385.

ACP – No. 4901. 8 percent growth. Revenue up from $3.2 million in 2008 to $3.5 million three years later. 22 employees (13 added in past three years). Founded: 1991. Software. Industry rank: No. 313


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