Six Ann Arbor companies were ranked on the Inc. 500|5000 list of fastest growing companies in America. Mortgage companies Gold Star Mortgage and Huron Valley Financial led the way, coming in at No. 1381 and No. 1500, respectively.
The Inc. rankings are based on companies' revenue growth between 2009 and 2012. Over the three-year period, Gold Star grew by 292 percent, increasing revenue from $15.3 million to $59.9 million and adding 235 jobs, making it the No. 19 fastest-growing company in Michigan.
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Dan Milstein (pictured here on left with brother Alex Milshteyn) has led Gold Star Mortgage onto the Inc. 5000 list for the third time.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com file photo
Other Ann Arbor companies on the list are Leon Speakers, Helix Steel, Underground Printing and Logic Solutions.
“Not all the companies in the Inc. 500 | 5000 are in glamorous industries, but in their fields they are as famous as household name companies simply by virtue of being great at what they do,” Inc. editor Eric Schurenberg said in a statement.
“They are the hidden champions of job growth and innovation, the real muscle of the American economy.”
Huron Valley Financial cracked the Inc. list for the first time in 2013 after experiencing 266 percent growth over the past three years. In 2012, the company brought in $9.6 million in revenue and employed 62 people.
The Inc. list only includes companies that are privately held, for profit and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies.
Leon Speakers has appeared on the Inc. 500|5000 list every year since 2011, when it first appeared at No. 2717, and continued its steady rise in the rankings this year to No. 2099. The 46th fastest-growing company in Michigan specializes in custom-tailored sound systems.
Helix Steel was the only local manufacturer to make the list, coming in at No. 2601. The company makes rebar, used in concrete reinforcement for construction products. Founded in 2003, Helix accelerated its growth over the past three years, growing from seven to 29 employees.
Underground Printing is the longest tenured Ann Arbor company to make the list, having been on every year since 2008. The T-shirt maker grew revenue 86 percent over the past three years and brought in $12.2 million in 2012. The 2013 numbers will likely keep the company on the list following the University of Michigan basketball team’s run to the NCAA national championship game.
The final Ann Arbor company on the list represented the area’s growing software development sector. Logic Solutions designs custom web and mobile applications for companies from its offices in Ann Arbor. The company employs 234 people and grew from $4.7 million in revenue in 2009 to $8.5 million in 2012.
“These Michigan companies, from a wide range of industries, have all earned their place on this list through innovation and aggressive performance,” Governor Rick Snyder said in a statement.
“They exemplify the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit Michigan is known for, and we applaud them for this notable achievement.”
Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Get in touch with Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2