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1. Arbitech

LAGUNA BEACH, CA

www.arbitech.com

Hardware & software distributor

Torin Pavia, William Poovey

Began: August 2000 w/8 employees; now 37 employees

Initial investment: $500K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $86.2M

Success secret: We place our customers first; we stand behind everything we sell.

2. Colarelli Construction Inc.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

www.colarelliconstruction.com

Commercial general contractor & construction management

Vincent Colarelli

Began: January 2003 w/1 employee; now 12 employees

Initial investment: $400K from savings/personal funds, line of credit

2003 sales: $20.6M

Success secret: It's never about us. We view every decision based on what's in the best interest of our client, and then we make sure that we deliver.

3. PromoWorks LLC

SCHAUMBURG, IL

www.promoworkspromotions.com

Marketing services

Mike Balogh, Mike Kent, Jon Bos

Began: August 1999 w/9 employees; now 115 employees

Initial investment: $2M from friends/family, private investors, savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $77.6M

Success secret: Follow your passion, and then take the lead. Stay focused, stay humble, and have fun. Realize companies don't succeed, people do. Make sure everyone shares in the victories.

4. United Source One

BALTIMORE

International food distribution

Michael Imgarten

Began: October 2000 w/26 employees; now 38 employees

Initial investment: $250K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $45M

Success secret: Building bridges of trust and understanding with our employees, vendors and international trading partners

5. Garden of Life

WEST PALM BEACH, FL

www.gardenoflifeusa.com

Health & wellness company

Jordan S. Rubin

Began: June 2000 w/3 employees; now 140 employees

Initial investment: $400K from friends/family

2003 sales: $43.2M

Success secret: We are driven by a noble mission, not just a bottom line. We measure successes by the number of lives we have positively impacted.

6. Infologix Inc.

BENSALEM, PA

www.infologixsys.com

Wireless system integration

Richard Hodge, David Gulian, Craig Wilensky

Began: August 2001 w/2 employees; now 46 employees

Initial investment: $150K from private investors, line of credit

2003 sales: $28.4M

Success secret: To teach and maintain through employees and partners the importance of exceptional customer service

7. Denton Harley-Davidson LP

DENTON, TX

www.americaneaglehd.com

Authorized Harley-Davidson dealership

Ron Stegall, Cindy Stegall, Todd Martin, Debi Martin, Ron Stegall Jr., Azu Stegall

Began: July 2001 W/10 employees; now 40 employees

Initial investment: $1.9M from bank loan, savings/personal funds, line of credit

2003 sales: $25.2M

Success secret: Integrity! Integrity in our pricing. Integrity with our customers. Integrity with our employees by having compensation plans that allow them to share in their contributions and ultimately the success of the overall company.

8. Winspec

WALNUT, CA

www.winspecwest.com

Computer memory manufacturer

Marco Fuxa, Martin H. Hofer, Joachim P. Nemeth

Began: September 1999 w/o employees; now 15 employees

Initial investment: $200K from private investors

2003 sales: $43.3M

Success secret: Go the extra mile to make things happen.

9. Media Storm LLC

SOUTH NORWALK, CT

www.mediastorm.biz

Advertising agency

Tim Williams, Craig Woerz

Began: November 2001 w/o employees; now 9 employees

Initial investment: $90K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $21.5M

Success secret: Be a "yes" company. Always deliver what the client wants, and then some.

10. Cypress Natural Gas LLC

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

Natural gas & energy marketing

Richard W. Gechter Jr.

Began: May 2001 w/1 employee; now 3 employees

Initial investment: $3.5M from private investors

2003 sales: $25.4M

Success secret: Work smarter and harder than your competitors. Limit your risk.

11. Pro-Motion Technology Group LLC

WIXOM, MI

www.pro-motion.us

Commercial audio/video sales, installation & services

Lynn Matson

Began: January 2003 w/5 employees; now 30 employees

Initial investment: $2M from credit cards, savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $9.4M

Success secret: Optimism and a positive attitude are key. You must believe in what you do and enjoy it. Optimists and enthusiasts are winners.

12. United Lumber Remanufacturing LLC

MUSCLE SHOALS, AL

www.unitedlumber.net

Industrial crating & lumber sales

Richard Pace, Delbert Brown

Began: December 2000 w/6 employees; now 56 employees

Initial investment: $400K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $24.3M

Success secret: Start early, and work smart.

13. Tech Target Inc.

NEEDHAM, MA

www.techtarget.com

Tech media & events

Greg Strakosch, Don Hawk

Began: September 1999 w/5 employees; now 240 employees

Initial investment: $12M from private investors

2003 sales: $32.5M

Success secret: Hire great people, and give them the resources and training to be successful. Then get out of their way, and let them do their jobs.

14. Madwood Lumber LLC

BIRMINGHAM, AL

www.madwood.us

Lumber wholesaler & broker

Joseph H. Flemming

Began: October 2002 w/2 employees; now 3 employees

Initial investment: $150K from line of credit

2003 sales: $8.6M

Success secret: Never sacrifice your integrity for financial gain.

15. Servatron Inc.

SPOKANE, WA

www.servatron.com

Electronic manufacturing services

Larry A. Panattoni, Keith Swenson, Tod Byers, John Miskulin

Began: May 2000 w/78 employees; now 179 employees

Initial investment: $1M from private investors, savings/personal funds, line of credit

2003 sales: $24.9M

Success secret: Our ability to retain customers once they become customers

16. Southampton Group LLC

CHARLOTTE, NC

www.southamptongroup.com

Homebuilding company

Jim Merrill, Jim McKinney, Paul Christenberry

Began: December 2001 w/o employees; now 13 employees

Initial investment: $20K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $10.6M

Success secret: Integrity and ethics matter in everything we do. How we treat the people we work with is as important as how we treat our customers.

17. Xpress Source

DOTHAN, AL

www.xpresssource.com

Procurement outsourcing services

Press L. Thornton, Michael R. Pierce

Began: February 2001 w/o employees; now 19 employees

Initial investment: $10K from friends/family

2003 sales: $14.1M

Success secret: Integrity above all.

18. Myrtle Beach Building Supply

CONWAY, BC

www.myrtlebeachbuildingsupply.com

Retail building materials

Bobby J. Smith, Joe D. Jenkins, Tripp S. Nealy

Began: February 2002 W/6 employees; now 25 employees

Initial investment: $1M from bank loan, line of credit

2003 sales: $9.1M

Success secret: Do what we say we will do, when we say we will do it.

19. Martin Capital

CLAYTON, GA

www.martincap.com

Real estate finance & development

J. Ashley Martin

Began: April 2001 w/1 employee; now 14 employees

Initial investment: $30K from friends/family

2003 sales: $13M

Success secret: Personal relationships are the most valuable asset in our business. Whether it's a customer or a strategic partner, we look beyond the single transaction to a long-term, win-win partnership.

20. Archibald's Inc.

KENNEWICK, WA

www.arcbibalds.biz

Pre-owned auto sales

John C. Archibald, Daniel J. Archibald

Began: June 2001 w/1 employee; now 3 employees

Initial investment: $150K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $11.8M

Success secret: It may sound corny, but the golden rule is the best philosophy for business.

22. Midwest Diagnostic Management LLC

MOKENA, IL

www.mdmonline.com

Health-care services

Kevin P. Tremblay

Began: June 2000 w/3 employees; now 94 employees

Initial investment: $450K from private investors

2003 sales: $15.4M

Success secret: Being an entrepreneurial company is like watching your child develop from infancy. First you need to crawl, then walk and then run. By mastering each of these skills before going on to the next, you minimize the falls.

22. VSA Construction Services

JESSUP, MD

www.vsaconstruction.com

Construction services

Richard Vance, Bob Sharps

Began: June 2002 W/7 employees; now 48 employees

Initial investment: $765K from bank loan, private investors, savings/personal funds, line of credit

2003 sales: $6.7M

Success secret: Provide a rewarding work environment, and maintain an ethical and moral business practice that contributes to the betterment of the community. Undercommit and overdeliver.

23. Applied Solutions Inc.

DALLAS

www.appliedsol.com

IT technology systems integration

Gary Tatsch, Dale Young, Jim Miller

Began: January 2000 w/o employees; now 17 employees

Initial investment: $34K from friends/family, savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $16.5M

Success secret: Focusing and leveraging our people with empowerment and accountability.

24. Warwick Construction Inc.

HOUSTON

www.warwickconstruction.com

General contractor

Anthony B. Annan

Began: April 1999 w/3 employees; now 35 employees