Rising stars: the 100 hottest new small businesses in America - Cover Story

Entrepreneur, June, 1996 by Debra Phillips, Lynn Beresford

1. SHANJA CORP., Ocala, FL Specialized durable medical equipment Robert Lillard Began: '94 w/2 employees; 6 employees Initial investment: $70K from friends/ private investors Bales: '94: $200K, '95: $4.5M 2. INNOVATION INC., Bothell, WA Wireless communications Paul Citoli Began: '93 w/1 employee; 28 employees Initial investment: line of credit Sales: '93: $16.7K, '95: $3.8M 3.

LEGACY CABINETS LLC, Eastaboga, AL Cabinet manufacturing R. Suggs, J. Fables, J. Grogan, C. Nunn, K Sratton Began: '94 w/45 employees; 95 employees Initial invstmt.: $1.8M from bank loan/private investors Sales: '94: $526K, 95: $6.5M 4. QUADRANT INTERNATIONAL INC., Wayne, PA Digital video computer peripherals Gregg Garnick, Michael Harris Began: 94 w/5 employees; 21 employees Initial investment: $150K from friends Sales: '94: $127K, '95: $1.3M 5. RETAIL PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION, Bensalem, PA Construction Adam Nevedale, John DeSanto Began: '93 w/6 employees; 22 employees Initial investment: $ 150K from personal funds Sales: '93: $100K, '95 $9.2M 6. PALMETTO INDUSTRIES INT'L., Augusta, GA Bulk containers Shankar Balan Began: '94 w/16 employees; 28 employees Initial investment: $85K from savings Sales: '94: $350K, '95: $3M 7. AUSTIN CONNECTION INC., Tampa, FL Data & fiber-optic cabling Annie R. Austin, Clifford Austin Began: '93 w/4 employees; 28 employees Initial investment: $7.34K from personal/ family funds Sales: '93: $14.8K, '95: $1M 8. INTER NET INC., Wayne, NJ Telecommunications products/services R. Saccoman, J. Saccoman, R. Stock, L McGowan Began: '93 w/4 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $40K from personal funds Sales: '93: $130K, '95: $7.9M 9. INT'L. ARMORING CORP., Ogden, UT Armored passenger vehicles Mark F. Burton Began: '93 w/6 employees; 60 employees Initial investment: $2K from savings Sales: '93: $345K, '95: $13.7M 10. FIDELITY MORTGAGE INC., Cincinnati Mortgage lending John Grippa, Ed Clark, Tom Scholl Began: '93 w/5 employees; 80 employees Initial investment: $50K from savings Sales: '93 $129.7K, '95 $3.32M 11. INGEAR CORP., Lincolnshire, IL Backpacks & sport bags Larry Gutkin, Kevin Achatz, Larry Wojciak Began: '94 w/4 employees; 10 employees Initial investment: $850K from private investors Sales: '94 $2M, '95: $10M 12. AUSTIN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS, Austin, TX Pneumatic & electronic automation Steve Bennett Began: '93 w/6 employees; 36 employees Initial investment: $60K from friends/ affiliated company Sales: '93: $300K '95: $7M 13. M&R HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, Springfield, VA Heating & air conditioning service contractor Daniel M. McCarthy, Phillip D Robrahn Began: '93 w/4 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $5K from savings Sales '93: $60K, '95: $1.25M 14. PRESCO TELECOMMUN. INC., Auburn, WA Communications services Michael Preston, Michelle Preston Began: '93 w/3 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $5K from friends Sales '93: $101K, '95: $1.74M 15. OPTICAL CABLING SYSTEMS LC, Carrollton, TX Fiber-optic sales Kevin Ehringer, Bill Brooks Began: '94 w/7 employees; 25 employees Initial investment: $20K from personal funds Sales: '94: $390K, '95: $1.57M 16. SAFFIRE CORP., Pleasant Grove, UT Computer/video games Leslie W. Pardew Began: '93 w/6 employees; 80 employees Initial investment: $700 from personal funds Sales: '93: $180K, '95: $2.6M 17. INTEGRATED NETWORK SOLUTIONS, Cedar Rapids, IA Computer hardware/software sales Philip Santoni Began '93 w/2 employees; 21 employees Initial investment: $10K from savings Sales: '93: $960K, 95: $13.8M 18. ADVANCED INFORMATION SOLUTIONS, Boston Computer consulting David S. Buck Began: '93 w/1 employee; 20 employees Initial investment: $10K from savings Sales: '93: $327.6K, '95: $4.5M 19. APPLIED HEALTH CARE INC., Houston Home health-care services Abdallah El Rassy, Issam Saad Began: '93 w/3 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $13K from savings Sales: '93: $97.6K, '95: $1.26M 20. AMERICAN INTERIORS INC., Toledo, OH Remanufactured office furniture Steven Essig Began: '93 w/7 employees; 50 employees Initial investment: $150K from internal financing Sales: '93: $308.4K, '95. $3.8M 21. DAVIS INDUSTRIAL PIPE & SUPPLY, Santa Fe Springs, CA Industrial pipes John Davis Began: '94 w/2 employees; 6 employees Initial investment: $20K from savings Sales: '94: $346K, '94: $1.2M 22. TECH EXPRESS CORP., Livonia, MI Architecture & engineering services John G. Damrath III, Tammy M. Damrath Began: '93 w/4 employees; 30 employees Initial investment: $15K from 401 (k) savings Sales: '93: $98.3K, '95: $1.17M 23. MAGNOLIA TRAILERS INC., Lucedale, MS Forestry trailers Connie Langley, Robert Langley Began: '93 w/10 employees; 30 employees Initial investment: $20K from savings Sales:'93: $400K, 95: $4.6M 24. SUNDANCE BUILDERS, Tucson, AZ General contractor/framing subcontractor F. Kevin Venos, Kenneth W. Stinnett Began:'94 w/59 employees; 50 employees Initial investment: $1 0K from savings Sales: '94: $935K, '95 $3.1 M 25. SYSTEMS GROUP INC., Minneapolis Computer consulting Brigitte O'Brien, Steve Blatnick Began: '93 w/12 employees; 75 employees Initial investment: $25K from friends/ bank loan/credit card/savings Sales: '93: $360K, '95: $3.8M 26. FLORIDA LIFESTYLE APPAREL, Orlando, FL Casual wear Art Kent, Chris Nelson Began: '94 w/8 employees; 19 employees Initial investment: $90K from friends/ credit card/savings Sales '94: $560K, '95: $1.8M 27. AMERICAN SERVOIL CORP., Houston Procurement/material management services Robert H. Peck Began:'93 w/3 employees; 7 employees Initial investment: $170K from private investors/ savings Sales: '93: $313K, '95. $3M 28. SOFTWARE SOURCE CO., Manasquan, NJ Computer software David Zelony, Teri Cipolla Began:'93 w/3 employees; 14 employees Sales: '93: $550K, '95: $4.8M 29. DURACRAFT MARINE CORP., Delhi, LA Aluminum fishing boats Sam Davidson, Andy Davidson, Tracy Denney Began:'94 w/25 employees; 35 employees Initial investment: $600K from friends/savings Sales. '94: $1.1M, '95: $3.2M 30. PSYCHOROMETRIC SYSTEMS INC., Denver Industrial cooling systems George Kast Began: '93 w/7 employees; 45 employees Initial investment: $500K from savings Sales: '93 $2.4M, '95: $18.9M 31. TERTRONICS INC., Minneapolis Software duplication services Terri T. Nguyen Began: '93 w/2 employees; 10 employees Initial investment: $50K from personal funds Sales: '93: $137K, '95: $1M 32. GREAT AMER. BEER CLUB, Lakemoor IL Microbrew beer-of-the-month club Douglas Doretti, Dirk Doretti, Barb Doretti Began: '94 w/2 employees; 15 employees Initial investment: $515K from friends Sales: '94 $1 M, '95: $2.85M 33. AMERICAN ASSEMBLERS INC., Rosenberg, TX Electronic/electro-mechanical assembly James Tibe, Frank Hoot Began: '93 w/10 employees; 50 employees Initial investment: $30K from friends/ bank loan Sales: '93: $150K, '95: $1.1 M 34. ASPEN LANDSCAPE SVCS., Santa Ana, CA Landscape contractor David F. Nealon, Mark B. Dunn Began: '94 w/45 employees; 70 employees Initial investment: $220K from friends Sales: '94 $750K, '95: $2M 35. QUALITY COMPUTER PRODUCTS INC., Minneapolis Computer cable & wire harnesses Samuel J. McDonald, Dana M. Eischen-Harvey Began:'93 w/3 employees; 27 employees Initial investment: $6K from savings Sales: '93: $256K, '95: $1.75M 36. MARTINEK & FLYNN WHOLESALE, Topeka, KS Siding, windows & seamless gutters C. Martinek, M. Martinek, D. Martinek, R. Flynn Began: '93 w/13 employees; 26 employees Initial investment: $50K from savings Sales:'93: $250K, '95: $1.6M 37. NU TECHNOLOGY SALES, Sunnyvale, CA Electronics distribution Henry Sanchez, Armand Faggioni Began: '94 w/3 employees; 15 employees Initial investment: $4K from private investors Sales: '94. $1 M, '95 $2.5M 38. JOHN C. AHERN CO. INC., Malden, MA Commercial/industrial painting contractor John C. Ahern Began: '93 w/6 employees; 45 employees Initial investment: $100K from friends/savings Sales: '93: $283K, '95: $1.72M [dagger]Tied companies listed alphabetically [dagger]39. HUNT & WALSH INC., Manassas Park, VA Painting/wall-coverings subcontractor Wayne E. Hunt, James S. Walsh Began: '94 w/10 employees; 30 employees Initial invstmt.: $100K from priv. investors/savings Sales: '94: $500K, '95: $1.2M [dagger]Tied companies listed alphabetically [dagger]39. KOOL WORLD INC., New York City Apparel accessories Emily Lam, Abraham Shrem Began:'94 w/1 employee; 1 employee Initial investment: $100K from friends Sales: '94: $500K, '95: $1.2M [dagger]Tied companies listed alphabetically [dagger]39. ZABRANSKY MECH. CORP., Wyckoff, NJ Mechanical contractor Nelson Zabransky Jr. Began: '94 w/4 employees; 9 employees Initial investment: $35K from savings Sales:'94: $500K,'95: $1.2M 42. DEERFIELD CONSTRUCTION GROUP, Oak Forest, IL Telecommunications site construction James W. Jesk Began: ,'93 w/6 employees; 30 employees Initial investment: $300K from savings Sales: '93: $1 M, '95: $5.7M 43. LEATHER CREATIONS INC., Norcross, GA Leather furniture Barry Gold, Scott Lobel Began: '94 w/15 employees; 35 employees Initial investment: $250K from friends, savings Sales: '94: $1.33M, '95: $3.2M 44. DIVERSIFIED BUSINESS SVCS., Tulsa, OK Mail order computers Joe Landrith, Pierre Thyssen Began: '93 w/2 employees; 20 employees Initial investment: $250 from savings Sales: '93: $400K, '95: $2.2M 45. SIMOD CORP., Jackson, MS Telecommunications equipment Wells Richards, Brad Cohen Began: '93 w/2 employees; 25 employees Initial investment: $55K from bank loan/savings Sales:'93: $750K, '95: $3.98M 46. CE SOIR LINGERIE CO. INC., Ventura, CA Wholesale lingerie accessories Ann Deal Began: '93 w/4 employees; 10 employees Initial investment: $74K from savings Sales: '93 $434K, '95: $2.21 M 47. NORTH AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CONCEPTS, Arlington, TX Transportation broker James Eckley, Homer Max Began: '93 w/6 employees; 29 employees Initial investment: $400K from bank loan/ savings Sales: '93: $1.8M '95: $9M 48. CIRCUIT BOARD EXPRESS, Haverhill, MA Prototype-printed circuit boards Mathew Gosselin Sr. Began:'93 w/5 employees; 58 employees Initial investment: $70K from savings Sales: 93: $750K, '95: $3.75M 49. FLOOR FASHIONS INC., Omaha NE Floors & counter tops D. Jorgengon, J. Hollingsworth, B. Charrlin Began: '93 w/5 employees; 30 employees Initial investment: $120K from friends/savings/ SBA loan Sales: '93: $700K, '95: $3.4M 50. CLUTCH CARGO INT'L., L., Elk Grove Village, IL International freight forwarder P. Mourousias, K. Halvorsen, L. Lucibello Began:'94 w/4 employees; 8 employees Initial investment: $100K from savings Sales: '94 $1 M, '95: $2.2M 51. ADVANTAGE TRANSPORT. INC., Phoenix Transportation broker Steve Noble, Matt Steckner Began: '94 w/4 employees; 6 employees Initial investment: $1 OK from friends Sales:'94: $1.6M, '95: $3.5M 52. FIVE-STAR ENTERPRISES Calabasas, CA Floor coverings/counter tops/int. design Jamie General Began:'93 w/3 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $15K from savings Sales: '93: $500K, '95: $2.24M 53. S & B EQUIPMENT CORP., Tacoma, WA Industrial & cleaning equipment Patrick T. Jacobs Began: '94 w/2 employees; 5 employees Initial investment: $2K from savings Sales: '94: $500K, '95: $1.1 M 54. TOTAL QUALITY MECHANICAL INC., Alpharetta, GA Comm'l. mechanical contracting J. Christopher Lane, Denise Jordan Lane Began:'93 w/3 employees; 8 employees Initial investment: $1 OK bank loan Sales: '93: $750K, '95: $3.21 M 55. PARTNERS 111 PLASTIC, Sharon Center, OH Custom plastics processing Gregory M. Vincent Began: '93 w/8 employees; 82 employees Initial investment: $1.5M from private investors/bank loan Sales: '93. $1.47M, '95 $6.3M 56. PERIPHERALS UNLIMITED, Longmont, CO Computer products L. Buckley, P. Sweeney, M. Buckley Began:'93 w/3 employees; 8 employees Initial investment: $1 OK from personal funds Sales:'93: $7.28M, '95: $28.32M 57. ALLTECH DATA SYSTEMS, Bensenville, IL Computer consulting services James Wilson, Marion Wilson Began: '94 w/20 employees; 49 employees Initial investment: $500K from friends/savings Sales: '94: $3.35M, '95 $6.45M 58. AVALINE INC., Whippany, NJ Embroidered emblems/emblematic jewelry Leonard Hornstein, Irwin A. Gordon Began:'93 w/3 employees; 10 employees Initial investment: $150K savings Sales:'93: $493K, '95. $1.83M 59. GEORGIA PAPER TUBE INC., Atlanta Fiber core processing/ recycling Blane B. Mooney Began: '93 w/12 employees; 30 employees Initial investment: $250K from private investors Sales: '93: $418K, '95: $1.53M 60. ACCUTEST CLINICAL LAB., Cleveland Medical laboratory William Nelson Began: '93 w/4 employees; 14 employees Initial investment: $250K from bank loan/ savings Sales: '93 $290K, '95: $1.1M 61. GREAT LAKES AUDIO VIDEO, Ferrysburg, MI Wholesale consumer electronics James J. Alexander Began: '93 w/2 employees; 8 employees Initial investmt.: $150K bank loan/priv. investors Sales: '93. $750K, '95 $2.7M 62. FWB ENTERPRISES, Snohomish, WA Electric motor sales Frank W. Barson Began: '93 w/4 employees; 2 employees Initial investment: $1 OK from savings Sales: '93: $289K, '95: $1 M 63. PACIFIC PANEL PRODUCTS, El Monte, CA Fabricated panel & lumber products Jon R. Dickey, Sandra Dickey Began: '94 w/6 employees; 15 employees Initial investment: $20K from friends/savings/ home refinance Sales: '94: $975K, '95: $1.8M 64. BLOOMINGTON COMPUTER SERVICE CO., Bloomington, IL Business computer sales/installation Harlan Geiser, Ken Pierson Began: '93 w/10 employees; 37 employees Initial investment: $40K from savings Sales: '93: $3M, '95: $10.3M 65. WASHINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, Federal Way, WA Mortgage brokerage Bob McCausland Began:'93 w/3 employees; 30 employees Initial investment: $7.5K from savings Sales: '93 $500K, '95 $1.6M 66. WELLS NANCE, Houston Passport/visa expediting Nance Wells Began: '93 w/5 employees; 15 employees Initial investment: $20K from friends/savings Sales: '93: $441 K, '95: $1.4M 67. JUST KIDS FURNITURE, Farmingdale, NY Juvenile furniture Steven Grossman Began: '93 w/4 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $250K from savings Sales:'93: $800K, '95: $2.5M 68. T.B. CONTRACTORS INC., Tucson, AZ Industrial construction Carl W. Thomas, David Thomas, W. A. Bartel Began: '93 w/82 employees; 20 employees Initial investment: $6.9K from friends/savings Sales: '93: $1 M, '95: $3.1 M 69. ONE SPORT INC., Seattle Outdoor footwear Menno van Wyk Began: '93 w/9 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $700K bank loan/ private investors Sales:'93: $1.69M, '95: $5.2M 70. FIELDCREST HOMES INC., Columbus, GA Residential construction David Erickson Began: '93 w/1 employee, 1 employee Initial investment: $200K from friends/savings Sales: '93: $1.5M, '95: $4.6M. 71. D.P. SPECIALISTS COLORADO INC., Englewood, CO Computer consulting services Gary Clark, Ed Myers, Peter Schaub Began: '93 w/20 employees; 49 employees Initial investment: $80K from friends Sales: '93: $1.1M, '95: $3.35M 72. MENTABERRY TRUCK & EQUIPMENT SERVICES, Elko, NV Truck equipment repair/parts sales John K. Mentaberry Began: '93 w/2 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $33K bank loan/savings Sales: '93: $450K, '95: $1.3M 73. COMPSOURCE INC., Charlotte NC Worker's compensation administration Jim Secunda, Bruce Flachs Began: '93 w/3 employees; 60 employees Initial investment: $350K from private investors Sales: '93: $2M, '95: $5.66M 74. ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES INC., Norfolk, VA Heating/air conditioning contractor C. Collins, J. Beatty Began: '93 w/8 employees; 24 employees Initial investment: $126K from bank loan/ savings Sales: '93: $1M, '95: $2.8M 75. ALCAN ENVIRONMENTAL INC., Anchorage, AK Hazardouz waste remediation/abatement David M. Henry, Harvey Frankel Began: '93 w/11 employees; 50 employees Initial investment: $69K from friends/savings Sales: '93: $1.3M, '95: $3.6M 76. CONTROL POWER-RELIANCE LLC, Troy, MI Transportation simulation services J. Edgar Myles, Bronce Henderson Began: '94 w/14 employees; 20 employees Initial investment: $296K from savings Sales: '94: $1.2M, '95: $1.95M 77. CEDAR MOUNTAIN SUPPLY, Coeur D'Alene, ID General commodities wholesaler Jim Baker Began: '93 w/1 employee; 2 employees Initial investment: $4K from friends Sales:'93: $700K, '95: $1.85M 78. TRADEMARK COSMETICS, Riverside, CA Private-label hair-care products David Ryngler, Yoram Fishman Began: '94 w/18 employees; 20 employees Initial investment: $250K from private investors Sales: '94: $1M, '95: $1.6M 79. PHOENIX TECHNICAL SERVICES, Lansdale, PA Industrial equipment & controls Rose P. Kenney, David W. Valaika Began: '93 w/5 employees; 24 employees Initial investment: $20K from savings Sales: '93: $437K, '95: $1.1M 80. PROTEX APPAREL CORP. EI Monte, CA Women's apparel Y.B. Kim Began: '94 w/4 employees; 13 employees Initial investment: $600K bank loan/ private investors Sales '94 $4M, '95. $6.2M 81. ENVIRO-MECHANICAL INC., Hialeah, FL Steam/hot water equipment Michael McNicholas, Steven Hutkowski Began:'93 w/3 employees; 5 employees Initial investment: $50K from friends Sales: '93: $500K, '95: $1.2M 82. FACTORY PAINT & BODY INC., Tuczon, AZ Auto collision repair Tom Rompel Began: '93 w/12 employees; 16 employees Initial investment: $15K bank loan Sales: '93: $600K, '95: $1.4M 83. G-L INDUSTRIES INC., Magna, UT Glued laminated timbers Richard Cormier, Larry Moultrie, Rick Conover Began: 94 w/35 employees; 31 employees Initial investment: $150K from private investors/savings Sales: '94: $4M, '95: $6.1 M 84. AMERIDEF INC., Stafford, VA Int'l. defense logistics support Rafael J. Tal, Luc M. Weckx Began: '94 w/8 employees; 11 employees Initial investment: $151 K from friends Sales:'94: $3M, '95: $4.5M 85. ATLANTIC AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT, Richmond, VA Automotive equipment G. Schaberg, G. Hill, B. Wilmoth, R. Green Began:'93 w/6 employees; 9 employees Initial investment: $100K from savings Sales '93 $1 M, '95: $2 2M 86. TENNESSEE VALLEY INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY, Decatur, AL Industrial maintenance supplies Jim Smith, Jeff Dunlap Began:'93 w/2 employees; 4 employees Initial investment: $6K from friends Sales: '93 $600K,'95: $1.3M 87. CENTURY SYSTEMS INC., Dayton, OH Label printing solutions Albert J. Carperna, Charles E. Evanhoe Began: '93 w/4 employees; 21 employees Initial investment: $100 from shareholders/ line of credit Sales: '93: $3M, '95 $6.35M 88. PRINT SOLUTIONS, Foster City, CA Print brokerage Ben Schafer Began: '94 w/1 employee; 4 employees Initial investment: $20K from savings Sales:'94: $1.8M, '95: $2.6M 89. INDEPENDENT PAPERBOARD MARKETING INC., Laguna Hills, CA Paperboard brokerage Doug Siemon, Mike Greene, Paul Keyser Began: '94 w/10 employees; 23 employees Initial investment: $200K from savings Sales: '94: $34.6M, '95: $48M 90. LAWRENCE INDEP. SALES SERVICE CO., Knoxville, TN Air conditioning sales & service Ronald F. Lawrence, Laura Beth Lawrence Began: '94 w/2 employees; 2 employees Initial investment: $42K from savings/ bank loan/credit card Sales:'94: $880K0, '95: $1.2M 91. DESIGN/SPACE, Venice, CA Specialty furniture systems Howard D. Paul Began:'94 w/1 employee; 2 employees Initial investment: $5K from personal funds Sales:'94: $873K, '95: $1.2M 92. GAIATECH INC. Chicago Environmental consulting firm Philip Newton Began: '93 w/8 employees; 25 employees Initial investment: $40K from savings Sales: '93: $1.1 M, '95: $2M 93. UNIQUE TRUCK ACCESSORIES, Sturgis, MI Truck accessories Stanley E. Lake Began: '93 w/6 employees; 14 employees Initial investment: $60K from savings Sales: '93: $800K, '95: $1.44M 94. HOMES 'R US INC., Mount Orab, OH Manufactured housing sales Robert N. Foster, Tracy W. Foster Began: '94 w/8 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $15K from savings Sales: '94: $1.73M, '95: $2.24M 95. CENTURY REPROGRAPHICS, Los Angeles Litigation support services Kirk M. Carter Began: '93 w/10 employees; 37 employees Initial investment: $100K from friends/ savings Sales:'93: $1.5M, '95: $2.5M 96. AMERICAN HARVEST INC., East Brunswick, NJ Gourmet foods Nolan Lewin Began: '93 w/9 employees; 15 employees Initial investment: $150K from savings Sales:'93: $1.1M, '95: $1.8M 97. MIDWEST CONTRACTORS, Cedar Falls, IA Highway construction services Dorinda Pounds Began: '94 w/25 employees; 29 employees Initial investment: $500K from friends/ bank loan/private investors Sales:'94: $1.8M, '95: $2.27M 98. SIERRA VISTA SHOWCASE FURNITURE! Sierra Vista, AZ Furniture & floor coverings Jeff Williams Began: '93 w/6 employees; 12 employees Initial investment: $40K bank loan Sales: '9.3: $1 M, '95: $1.52M 99. PRESCOTT BREWING CO., Prescott, AZ Brewpub John J. Nielsen, Roxane D. Nielsen Began:'94 w/5 employees; 75 employees Initial investment: $750K from friends/ SBA loan/private investors/savings Sales:'94: $1.36M, '95: $1.63M 100. TJ SPORTS INC., Burlington, NC Sporting goods Rick Johnson, Tim Johnson Began: '93 w/15 employees; 21 employees Initial investment: $150K bank loan/savings Sales: '93: $850K, '95: $1.1 M