CatalystMag.com's Top 25 Entrepreneurs + Ones To Watch

Find out who made the list!

October 31, 2008

» 1 Tyler Long, CEO, The Access Group of Companies »
Like many entrepreneurs, Tyler Long was inspired to start his own business because he was tired of working for others.

Spending eight years of his early career with Xerox and Ikon Office Solutions, he continued to perform in the top one percent of the sales force, bringing in more than $2 million in sales revenue annually. But his strong Christian values conflicted with the business model he was being asked to sell. He dreamed of a "kingdom company" with a sales force that focused on personalized service, caring and teaching.

Inspired by his brother's credit card processing business - struggling, at the time - Long enrolled in the University of South Carolina's MBA program, and began developing several business ventures that continue to flourish today.

In 2005, Long created an exam preparation service for candidates seeking employment in the public sector. His company, Access Business Services, grew rapidly to 20 employees in just a few years. Today, he offers exam prep services for U.S. governmental organizations, primarily the U.S. Postal Service Exam, as well as selling career development guides for the postal battery exam and G.E.D. 

The secret of his success? Long invests in the education of his sales force and helps instill core values. He empowers his employees to have control over their own income, build their own mini-business and live the American dream. And the culture he's developed includes perks like "70s day" (who doesn't want to wear bell bottoms to work?); and cheering, hi-fives and pom-pom shaking when a sales person closes a deal. While keeping to these values, the company has experienced an average annual growth of 195 percent over the last three years.

"I have worked to build a company that brings glory to God in the way we conduct business and treat our customers and employees," he says. "The company is based on biblical principles and built on the idea that nice guys could finish first. This still inspires me today."

» Fact you probably didn't know: A self-proclaimed "natural introvert," Long's drive for success pushes him to step outside his comfort zone.

» 2 Leslie O'Connor, President, Search Wizards »
"I've always been driven by personal challenge and accomplishment," says Leslie O'Connor, founder and president of Search Wizards, a local talent-acquisition firm making big waves across her industry. "I am inspired by the constant change and evolution of the business community."

O'Connor understands the role of change - both in industry and her career. After all, she spent nearly 20 years as a door-to-door Kirby vacuum saleswoman. In 1998, Robert Half hired her and, although offering the position as a branch manager, she declined, instead opting to work as an entry-level account executive in order to learn the business from the ground up. 

She proved to be very successful at recruiting and soon was hired by Darwin Staffing to start up its Atlanta branch. When her son hit the pre-teen years, O'Connor decided she needed more flexibility, and in 2000, decided to launch a home-based venture, Search Wizards.

Once her son went off to college, O'Connor focused her energies on her growing business. Today, her company has eight employees and is a leading global provider of selective recruitment process outsourcing. According to O'connor, only four other companies in the country are focusing on this niche. "I thrive on learning about emerging technologies and trends, the next big thing, and the simplest of ideas that can impact an industry," she says. "I'm proud of the accomplishments that women have made, and I think we all have the ability to inspire young women in that regard."

» Key learning as an entrepreneur? "Never live beyond your means," she says.

» 3 Dan Sterling, President, Direct Metals Recycling »
Picture a Wharton MBA graduate in a high-priced men's suit, driving around in a pickup truck with nearly $200,000 in cash and purchasing used car parts for his burgeoning business. Sounds like a bad episode of "The Apprentice," but this is a chapter in the life of local entrepreneur Dan Sterling. The year was 2005, and this true scenario was how Direct Metals Recycling was born.

After a 10-year career with Arthur Andersen and four years with NCR, Sterling decided to take the plunge and start his own business. In 2005, he and his business partner, also a Wharton grad, purchased a junkyard with the intention of buying and selling used car parts.

Today, Direct Metals Recycling processes, grades and sorts automobile parts - averaging 600 cars a month - and resells the catalytic converters and scrap metal in an environmentally safe manner. In August, his company moved into a new facility with four bays that can increase productivity.

"My family has been entrepreneurial since my great-grandfather started a company to support the family during the late 1920s," he says. "That company served the family for over 70 years. I love everything about being entrepreneurial - the self-reliance, the educated risk taking, the flexibility, financial rewards, and other rewards. Everyone should take charge of their life and actively pursue their dreams. That is the essence of entrepreneurism."

» Dan's "At Bat" Song? "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz.

» 4 Michael S. Jones, President & COO, Implantable Provider Group »
When you ask Michael Jones why he decided to start his small business, he's quick to explain his motives. "I figured nobody else would pay me what I thought I was worth," he says. "So I had no choice but to create something where I could be in the driver's seat." As the co-founder, president and COO of Alpharetta-based Implantable Provider Group (IPG), Jones is worth every penny.

IPG purchases high-cost implantable medical devices primarily in the neurological, cardiovascular, orthopedic and spine industries, a $30-billion industry. His company works with more than 700 clinical providers nationwide and have contracted with a wide range major commercial insurance companies and device manufacturers.

In 2002, Jones started his company by setting up a small table in the lobby of a business owned by his co-founder. It wasn't long before they grew into their own office space with hired employees. Since then they have doubled the number of people, office space, revenue and earnings every year following. In 2008, IPG was named No. 138 on Inc. Magazine's list of fastest growing companies.

He credits his success to his desire of wanting to build a winning business.

» Fact You Probably Didn't Know: Michael never completed college.

» 5  Steve Tanner, CEO, DCPRO Powercom, Inc. »
In 1999, Steve Tanner left the company he helped grow to venture out on his own. This emerging entrepreneur knew he'd found his path to success when the owner of his former company offered to buy his startup after he'd attracted the business of a $1 million a year former client.

Tanner's company, DCPRO Powercom, occupies a niche in the power supply chain for the telecom industry. As a nationwide provider of engineer, furnish and installation services to the telecommunications industry, the Norcross-based company is involved in all virtually all facets of DC power systems and associated infrastructure, and now has 45 employees and offices in Atlanta and Denver.

Beginning his career at age 19, Tanner went on to open his own business at 30. "It was really opportunistic more than anything," he says. "I saw an entry point and I felt I could operate a business on my own. After I made the decision to move forward, it was just a matter of determination and hard work."

Like many other emerging enterprises, Tanner's company has seen its share of ups and downs. Tanner grew the company from $1 million to $10 million very quickly in the first two years of operations, then hit rock bottom in 2005 at just under $1 million in revenue when the telecom industry was in upheaval. He always believed he could come back - and he did.

Someone else believed in him, too. His mom was his first employee and backer, and still works with him and retains a stake in the company.

» Steve's "At Bat" Song? "Back In Black" by ACDC.

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About The 2008 Awards
CatalystMag.com teamed with Atlanta-based accounting and advisory firm Gifford, Hillgass & Ingwersen, LLP, (GH&I) to select this year's Top 25 Entrepreneurs & Ones to Watch. GH&I - a nationally ranked, full-service accounting, audit, business advisory, tax and financial planning service provider - has been a meaningful partner with Catalyst since the award's inception. Each year, GH&I independently evaluates and verifies the information submitted by the nominees.

The Selection Process
This year, CatalystMag.com received an unprecedented number of nominations, resulting in an even higher caliber of companies and a difficult selection process. A team of GH&I employees performed in-depth field interviews with these top executives to confirm financial information against audited statements or tax returns, and then compiled evaluation results. The Ones to Watch - businesses with less than $3 million in current-year revenues - were evaluated according to the same criteria as the Top 25 group. In collaboration with Associate Publisher and Editor of CatalystMag.com, Drew Ermenc, the final results were scored and ranked by an experienced team of GH&I accounting professionals

The Factors
The selection team of business and financial analysts used four factors to evaluate and rank this year's honorees, with Growth, Profitability and Sustainability equally weighted. Entrepreneurship was weighted heavier.

»  Growth:  Nominees were rated for year-over-year revenue growth during 2005, 2006, and 2007.

»  Profitability:  Points were added to the total score for demonstrating positive profits during periods of rapid growth across 2005, 2006 and 2007.

»  Sustainability: Recognizing that companies still in their start-up years often displayed strong growth rates, the team gave additional consideration to companies that demonstrated sustained performance over the life of their business.

»  Entrepreneurship:  This qualitative factor considered the CEO's vision, leadership style and strategy, as well as company culture.

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