Four Elmhurst Businesses Named Among Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies

Four Elmhurst businesses recently gained national attention, joining the ranks of Inc. magazine's top 5,000 fastest growing U.S. companies.

Healthcare Growth Partners, Foodmix Marketing Communications, Sterling Staffing and Ambir Technology were all included in the 2013 list, which was released Tuesday.

The Inc. 5000 list of 2013's fastest growing companies includes 261 Illinois businesses employing more than 93,000 people. An eclectic array of industries made the list, from a media company for photographer moms and a suburban restaurant and winery chain to traditional insurance companies and construction firms.

One might think that Chicago-based firms would dominate the list—and 91 of the businesses call the city of broad shoulders home—but more than half are in the suburbs, with 19 in towns far downstate or well outside the metro area. The suburb with the most firms on the Inc. 5000 list is Schaumburg, with 13, followed by Oak Brook with 10 and Naperville with eight.

In the last three years, 22 of the companies experienced a growth rate over 1,000 percent.

Writes Inc. magazine:

"Management author Hermann Simon calls companies like these hidden champions, because they deliver outstanding performance while operating "in the 'hinterland' of the value chain, supplying machinery, components, or processes that are no longer discernible in the final product or service." As such, they are the sinews of our economic physiology. But jobs are also created by the thousands of organizations that constitute the Inc. 5000's customers. ...

The National Center for the Middle Market describes companies such as those on the Inc. 5000 as "model links" in corporate supply chains. ... These businesses make and keep American companies competitive: Within their niches, they are as innovative and service oriented as the most beloved household names. But rather than strategize to build brands, they earn reputations simply by virtue of how well they do what they do. They grow reference by reference until every customer in their markets knows whom to call."

Here's the scoop on the four Elmhurst businesses that made the list this year:

No. 1045: Healthcare Growth Partners 105 S. York St., Suite 230

Founded in 2005, Healthcare Growth Partners is a  a boutique investment bank focused on healthcare technology and services, according to Inc.

The company has posted a 407 percent growth in revenue in the past three years, increasing earnings from $1.9 million in 2009 to $7.2 million in 2012.

There are currently only five employees, one having been added in the past three years, according to Inc.

Healthcare Growth Partners was ranked 69th in Inc.'s list of Top 100 Financial Services Companies, 56th in the Top 100 Illinois Companies and 50th in the Chicago Metro Area.

No. 3952: Foodmix Marketing Communications, 103 W. Arthur St.

Founded in 2000, Foodmix is a full-service marketing communications firm focused exclusively on clients in the food and beverage industry, according to Inc.

The company has posted a 69 percent growth in revenue in the past three years, increasing earnings from $5.4 million in 2009 to $9.2 million in 2012.

There are currently 35 employees, with 15 added in the past three years, according to Inc.

No. 4060: Sterling Staffing, 977 N. Oaklawn Ave.

Founded in 1969, Sterling Engineering Staffing provides technical recruitment and engineering project services, according to Inc. 

The company has posted a 65 percent growth in revenue in the past three years, increasing earnings from $24.6 million in 2009 to $40.7 million in 2012.

There are currently 1,098 employees, with 468 added in the past three years.

Sterling Staffing was ranked 58th among Inc.'s Top 100 Engineering Companies.

No. 4316: Ambir Technology, 928 N. Oaklawn Ave.

Founded in 2001, Ambir Technology offers digital capture and document management services to customers in the healthcare, legal and financial sectors, according to Inc.

The company has posted 57 percent growth in revenue over the past three years, increasing earnings from $5.3 million in 2009 to $8.2 million in 2012.

There are currently 16 employees, with seven added in the past three years.

Ambir Technology was ranked 35th on Inc.'s Top 100 Computer Hardware Companies, and was named to the Honor Roll for being a Five-time Inc. 5000 Honoree.

See the full "2013 Inc. 5000" list here.