BY JOHN REID BLACKWELL
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
...Phenomenal growth is the one trait that links all the companies on the Rising 25, which honors successful privately held, independent companies in the Richmond area. Now in its 16th year, the Rising 25 is sponsored by the accounting firm KPMG, the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The fastest-growing company in the Richmond area will be revealed at a Jan. 26 banquet honoring all 25 companies.
The average five-year growth rate for companies on this year’s list is 387 percent, less than last year’s average of 476 percent but still above the lowest average rate of 305 percent in 1990, the first year of the program. The five-year growth rate reached its high point in 1995 at 1,185 percent.
The companies employ 3,214 full-time workers and 2,986 part-timers.
Nine newcomers join the Rising 25 this year, among them Payerpath Inc., a company that offers Web-based software to physicians and insurance companies designed to ease the process of paying claims and making other health-care transactions...
...The list also includes 16 companies that have been in the Rising 25 before, including several perennial contenders such as Dallan Construction. Danny Meyer, Dallan’s co-founder and president, said the general contracting company saw no slowdown in the local construction market in 2005...
...To be considered for the Rising 25, a company must be privately held and independent, be based in the Richmond metropolitan area, operate for profit, have at least a five-year sales history and have sales more than $200,000 in 2000, the base year. They also must have an increase in revenue from 2003 to 2004.
Contact staff writer John Reid Blackwell at jblackwell@timesdispatch.com or (804) 775-8123.
For the complete article and list of the Rising 25 companies logon to www.timesdispatch.com and search for Richmond's Rising 25.