NoCo companies make appearance on Inc. 5000 list

For 25 years, Inc. magazine’s Inc. 500 list has singled out the country’s fastest-growing private companies, but this year the magazine expanded its vision – by a factor of 10 -to the Inc. 5000.

Nine Northern Colorado companies appear on the expanded list among the 132 from the state. Local companies debuted at No. 795 and spanned to No. 4,835 and came from cities throughout Larimer and Weld counties.

Overall, the industries most heavily represented on the Inc. 5000 list were construction, manufacturing and information technology services. Regional companies reflected that for the most part, but also offered some diversity:

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No. 795 – Mesa Networks

Frederick-based Internet service provider Mesa Networks grew at a rate of 429.1 percent from 2003 to 2006, with revenues of $8 million last year – 22nd fastest in the state. Much of the growth came from acquisition, with Mesa picking up four other ISPs in less than a year. CEO Todd Bergstrom said that the company took the time and resources to completely integrate each of its acquisitions into the existing Mesa wireless network – a task that many ISPs on the acquisition trail will forego.

“It’s really all Mesa Networks now,” Bergstrom said.

Mesa Networks focuses on providing high-speed Internet access to “underserved” customers along the Front Range. Right now, businesses make up about 30 percent of the company’s new customers, and Bergstrom said that is growing.

No. 1,410 – 308 Systems

308 Systems might have only four employees, but the Fort Collins company has seen its revenue grow 255.6 percent in three years, with 2006 revenue of $2.4 million. The company did not return a call from the Business Report, but according to Inc.com, the company was founded in 1998. The company Web site features “mobile command and communications systems” solutions in the form of rugged, battery-powered cases that can hold a variety of electronic equipment such as laptops and GPS devices. The company serves industries ranging from military to health care.

No. 2,129 – S.A. Robotics

For Loveland-based S.A. Robotics, making the Inc. 5000 list with 162 percent growth was a little bit of a let down. The company, which designs and manufactures specialty robotics for use in hazardous environments, has been listed on the Inc. 500 list for the past two years. CEO Michael Cappello said that the company expects to almost double its 2006 revenue of $9.3 million in 2007.

S.A. Robotics truly fits the definition of a primary employer – one that earns a bulk of its revenue outside Northern Colorado to pay premium wages to its local employees. Cappello said that about 50 percent of S.A. Robotic’s revenue is earned internationally now – much of it in the United Kingdom

“Every dollar we earn is a dollar from outside of Colorado,” he said. “We don’t have any customers in Colorado right now.”

Additionally, the company has been in a constant growth mode, increasing its employment from 12 in March 2003 to about 130 today.

No. 2,163 – Otter Products LLC

Keeping up with the latest technology can be a challenge, but Otter Products LLC has made a thriving business out of it. The Fort Collins-based company makes the OtterBox, rugged containers for PDAs, iPhones, laptops and other specialty electronics. The company saw 166 percent revenue growth from 2003 to 2006, with $5.8 million last year.

The company is poised for additional growth, having recently released a sleeker design of the OtterBox more suited for consumers and professionals rather than field workers and adventurers. The company employs about 30, up from seven in 2003. CEO Curt Richardson said the company is gearing up for a move to a larger facility in Fort Collins, a 30,000-square-foot building previously occupied by FedEx.

No. 2,282 – Sycamore Kids

Sycamore Kids stands out from the other local companies on the Inc. 5000 list. The Fort Collins firm inked $2.9 million in revenues last year – a 156 percent increase from 2003 – selling safety-tested child products to retailers.

The company was founded in 2001 after Alan Jurysta’s daughter was injured when a hotel-supplied crib collapsed with her in it. The incident inspired Jurysta to find the safest possible child-care products and make them available to stores nationwide.

Sycamore Kids currently offers two lines – the Mountain Buggy strollers and HandySitt wooden high chairs. Jessica Walker, marketing director, said the company previewed a Miyo Baby Hammock at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas in early September.

No. 2,511 – Information Technology Experts

Fort Collins-based Information Technology Experts, better known as ITX, is joining its customers in reaping the benefits of bundling its ever-expanding product line. The company saw 139.1 percent growth since 2003, with $10.1 million in revenues last year.

ITX president and CEO Mai Tran said the company grew about 60 percent last year and is on track for 30 percent growth this year.

“The government contract side is growing a little more than the commercial side,” Tran said.

The company recently opened a satellite office in Greeley and is preparing to launch a new security camera solution. Tran explained that the camera product is a natural addition to ITX’s product line because the wired and wireless Internet protocol will be integrated with the rest of the client’s network.

No. 2,674 – SteelStar Corp.

Born from the merger of two complimentary businesses, Dacono-based SteelStar Corp. is now taking advantage of a complete line of services in steel design and fabrication for commercial and industrial construction. The company reported 2006 revenue of $10 million, up 127.5 percent from 2003.

The company does all of its fabrication in Dacono to serve customers in Colorado and out-of-state. It started exporting less than two years ago and now has customers as far away as California and Washington.

The company now employs about 90 people and expects to grow its revenue by about 50 percent this year compared to 2006.

No. 3,663 – Access Computer Products

Access Computer Products has built a successful business out of helping schools and parents. The Loveland-based company grew to $16.4 million in revenues in 2006 – up 77.7 percent since 2003. Access employs 80 people locally.

The company runs a program called Cartridges for Kids in which students from 1,300 participating schools around the nation send in empty ink cartridges, used cell phones, laptops and even old video games to Access in return for money for the school. Access then sells the products to refurbishers and remanufacterers around the world.

CEO Jim Goodell said the company is starting an online buying membership club to raise additional money for schools when parents make online purchases from participating retailers.

No. 4,835 – ZTS Construction Inc.

Windsor-based ZTS Construction Inc. rounded out the Northern Colorado companies on the Inc. 5000 list. The company saw 29.9 percent revenue growth since 2003, with $3.1 million last year.

ZTS owner Zach Satrang did not return a call for comment in time for publication of this story.

According to the company’s Web site, Satrang, a framing carpenter, started the residential construction company in 1994.