Russell Cellular tops 2010 Dynamic Dozen list

Springfield Business Journal honored 12 of the fastest growing companies in southwest Missouri Thursday night, and the company atop the list was familiar with the honor.

Taking the No. 1 spot at the 2010 event, held at the Doubletree Hotel, was Russell Cellular Inc., which also took the top position at the inaugural event in 2004.

The Verizon Wireless dealer has had a year of ups and downs, dealing with changes resulting from Verizon's $28.1 billion acquisition of Russell's former carrier, Alltel. The company, now the fifth-largest Verizon dealer in the United States, also grew through acquisition, buying SRC Communications and its 20 Ohio stores at the end of 2008.

Company President Jeff Russell told the crowd of more than 200 that the changes have meant a lot of work for he and wife Kym, who he called "volunteer of the year."

"I'm a really good salesman - she hasn't been on the payroll since we started," Russell said. The company, which opened in 1993, posted $44.7 million in 2009 revenues, up 122 percent from 2007.

No. 2 on the list was Electronic Check Services, and company President Derron Winfrey said he was proudest of the fact that the company has not acquired competing businesses or used bank loans for growth.

"What's really impressive is that our growth has all been internal," Winfrey said. "That really says something about the quality of our employees."

The company posted 2009 revenues of $18.1 million, up 633 percent from 2007.

Other honorees, in ranking order, were MaMa Jean's Natural Market, BKD LLP, Allied Roofing Systems LLC, Here to Serve dba Midwest Metro, CoxHealth, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, TLC Property Management LLC, Ozarks Technical Community College, Healthcarefirst Inc. and Wehr Construction LLC.

Companies were judged on revenue totals and three-year revenue growth, as compiled by Missouri State University's College of Business Administration.

Click here for complete coverage of the 2010 event.[[In-content Ad]]