Five southwest Missouri companies make Inc. 5,000

The magazine annually ranks private U.S. companies based on percentage revenue growth during a three-year period – in this year’s case, from 2004 to 2007. The list began as the Inc. 500 but last year expanded to the Inc. 5,000. Results for 2008 were revealed Aug. 20.

Springfield-based Incredible Pizza Co. was southwest Missouri’s highest-ranked company at No. 456. The food-and-games chain with 14 locations reported 693 percent growth during the three-year period and 2007 revenue of $64.1 million.

Also among the Inc. 500 was Osage Beach company Stokes Dock, at No. 474. The dock builder had 664 percent growth and $3.1 million in 2007 revenue.

Three other locally based companies made appearances on the Inc. 5,000: Springfield’s Jack Ball and Associates, at No. 1,077 with 349 percent growth and $2.6 million in 2007 revenue; Ozark’s Healthcarefirst, at No. 2,359 with 156 percent growth and $4.7 million in 2007 revenue; and Neosho’s Branco Enterprises, at No. 2,843 with 126 percent growth and $66.7 million in 2007 revenue.

Both Incredible Pizza Co. and Healthcarefirst were 2008 honorees for Springfield Business Journal’s Dynamic Dozen, a ranking of the 12 fastest-growing companies in the area.