Finalist: Russell Cellular

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Springfield-based Russell Cellular was founded in 1993 as a home-based business, with owner Jeff Russell as its lone sales representative. Now the company employs 44 people and has 27 stores in operation, with several more slated to open this month. |ret||ret||tab|

The company was a semi-finalist for the W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year Award in 2000, and this year is vying with four other finalists for the honor. |ret||ret||tab|

Russell Cellular, an authorized Alltel Agent, maintains a customer base of nearly 50,000 clients, and the company's revenues have increased from $76,000 in 1994 to more than $3.5 million in 2001. |ret||ret||tab|

This year, the company expanded with the opening of an office in Grove, Okla., and with the Feb. 1 acquisition of Metro Mobile Communications. |ret||ret||tab|

Russell Cellular's sister company, American Cellular Inc. was established in 2001, offering CenturyTel services in north-central Arkansas. |ret||ret||tab|

Specializing in wireless communication services, Russell Cellular strives to offer competitive professional service via friendly, motivated and well-trained employees.|ret||ret||tab|

Challenges for all businesses, including Russell Cellular, intensified following the events of Sept. 11. In response to the terrorism attacks, however, Russell Cellular's employees collected more than $2,300 in donations for the American Red Cross, and worked daily to help customers set up cellular service for themselves and their loved ones. |ret||ret||tab|

Following a late September luncheon that focused on the economy and the impact that small businesses could make, Russell Cellular in January announced its most aggressive growth plan to date, which included the Metro Mobile acquisition. The company's focus now is not only on strengthening its existing offices, but also on continuing its expansion efforts. |ret||ret||tab|

The communications industry by nature is volatile and ever-changing, and as a result, Russell Cellular has learned to be aggressive, flexible and proactive. The company takes special pride in "qualifying" customers for the services and products that best meet their needs. At the corporate level, the company operates on an advanced inventory system that allows for fast turnover and keeps the company's inventory to a minimum. |ret||ret||tab|

By ordering equipment weekly and buying in volume, Russell Cellular has the advantage of examining the market to find the best equipment pricing available and keeping profits high. The company has developed its own computer programs, and it creates its own publications and promotions material. |ret||ret||tab|

In each community where Russell Cellular has a presence, it strives to be active in civic organizations and chambers of commerce. Russell, his wife Kym, the company's vice president, the management team and the employees all contribute their efforts in the civic arena. |ret||ret||tab|

The company considers it an honor to be nominated for the W. Curtis Strube Award, although Jeff Russell himself is no stranger to recognition. In 1999, at the age of 29, he was named the Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Small Business Administration. This year, he was named the SBA's Small Business Person of the Year for the entire state of Missouri (see story on page 35) and is now competing with the winners from other states for the national award. [[In-content Ad]]