Five Baton Rouge-based businesses learned this afternoon that they’re among the 10 fastest growing companies either owned or led by LSU alumni, as executives and team members from the 100 companies included on this year’s LSU 100 list gathered at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel for the unveiling of the annual rankings.
Among the local businesses cracking into the top 10 this year are Lipsey’s at No. 10 and Solid Ground Innovations at No. 7. Three Baton Rouge firms made the top 5—Red Six Media, at No. 5; Tin Roof Brewing Company, at No. 3; and Skyhawk, No. 2. The companies on the list are ranked by compound annual growth over a three-year period.
But none of them could top Harvey-based Global Commerce and Services, which was ranked the fastest growing business on the LSU 100 list for the second straight year. Joaneane Smith, owner, president and CEO of GCS, accepted the honor on behalf of her firm, which has grown to 31 employees since being founded in 2000 and has been included on a number of listings of America’s fastest growing firms, including a No. 219 ranking on the 2014 Inc. 500 list.
After thanking God, family members, employees, friends and “the company that laid me off” for helping build her company and achieve the honor, Smith recalled one of her most difficult times in life, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 41 years old in 2010. After shaking off the initial shock of the diagnosis, she immediately began building a supportive team around her and planning for how she could beat the disease.
“Now it is five years later and here I am, talking loud and standing tall,” said Smith, who announced she is now cancer free to an outburst of roaring applause from the few hundred attendees on hand. “What I’ve learned is that whether you’re battling cancer or building a business, many of the same elements are needed and for me it all starts with having faith.”
A Baton Rouge firm was also honored at today’s luncheon with a new award as part of the LSU 100. The Summit Award is given to the company with the highest revenue among all of those on the list, and for the inaugural year Performance Contractors received the award. Owner and President Art Favre accepted the award on behalf of Performance, which is ranked No. 41 overall on this year’s list.
Postlethwaite & Netterville, which annually runs the numbers to compile the LSU 100 list, noted the companies on the list collectively had revenues of $5.1 billion in 2013, which is higher than the gross domestic product of 60 countries worldwide. The 2015 rankings were determined by compound annual growth over a three-year period through 2013.
For 19 companies, inclusion on the LSU 100 list marked a first for them this year, while 14 others have been included every year since the awards program launched in 2011.
All told, roughly half of all LSU 100 firms are headquartered in the Capital Region. Among some of the other Baton Rouge area companies making the list this year are: Keys Graphics, at No. 91; Ruffino’s Restaurant, No. 82; Sparkhound Inc., No. 75; Vivid Ink Graphics, No. 52; General Informatics, No. 50; Gatorworks, No. 42; Performance Contractors, No. 41; Paper Rock Scissors, No. 36; Raising Cane’s, No. 34; Catapult Creative Media, No. 22; IWD, No. 14; and Stonetrust Commercial Insurance Co., No. 13.
Rick Perry, president and CEO of the LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation, was among the LSU leaders who offered up some remarks before the full list was unveiled at this afternoon’s luncheon. He equated the success of the businesses on the LSU 100 list to the success of star LSU running back Leonard Fournette, who wears No. 7.
“I feel like I’m in a room of No. 7s,” he said. “You are the leaders that will help LSU into the future.”
See the complete 2015 LSU 100 rankings.
—Steve Sanoski
