2014 Fastest Growing Company 1-5 Years

SmartRG (winner)

SmartRG designs and produces hardware and software solutions to help Internet service providers and broadband operators monitor, manage and monetize the connected home. Since SmartRG was spun off from its parent company in 2012, CEO Jeff McInnis has doubled the number of staff (from 16 to 32), with plans to double that count again by year’s end. The company recently increased their office space from 2,600 square feet to almost 6,000. Additionally, the company now has a warehouse facility on Airport Way in Portland, which will serve as SmartRG’s main distribution center as the company’s growth continues.

SmartRG’s net income increased 114 percent from 2012 to 2013, and another 66 percent in 2014. To further fuel growth, the company has teamed up with a Danish industrial design firm to improve the visual style of SmartRG’s product lines and is expanding its offerings in Wi-Fi and advanced home automation services, in addition to the firm’s core products. McInnis said the company plans for client growth of over 1000 percent by 2016 and is hoping for a 600 percent increase in revenue over their first year.

2014 Fastest Growing Company 1-5 Years (Finalists)

Pure Imagination, LLCPure Imagination, LLC

Two years ago, Pure Imagination’s co-founder Michael Wallace turned his attention from inventing high-tech toys to inventing the connected kitchen. Perfect Drink is a patented smart bartending system that allows anyone to make world-class cocktails at home using a smart digital scale that knows the density of each ingredient and senses the perfect pour, connected to an app on the user’s tablet or smartphone. Perfect Bake is a similar product that helps customers consistently create delicious dishes.

“We realized that the Internet of Things (IoT) is mostly controlling lights, locks and thermostats,” said Wallace. “Not a lot of companies are doing IoT in the kitchen.”

Total revenue in 2014 was almost four-and-a-half times that of 2013. Although product is driving 100 percent of revenue at the moment, by 2019, Wallace expects to diversify his revenue stream so that content (recipes), product and partnerships with OEMs contribute equally. The company attended the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show and the Housewares show, and have garnered a lot of attention from retailers such as Sam’s Club, Williams Sonoma, and Bed, Bath & Beyond; OEMs such as Whirlpool and Magic Bullet; and content owners such as allrecipes.com and King Arthur Flour.

Michael's Floor CoveringsMichaelís Floor Covering Inc.

When his employer went out of business in 2010, Mike Haasl decided to put his sales experience to work – for himself. He and wife Evie founded Michael’s Floor Covering Inc. with six full-time employees. The company has a diversified market, including commercial, residential, new construction and remodel jobs. And they don’t just sell rugs and laminate – granite slab counter tops, tiles, water-proofing and more, combined with a focus on customer service (his four sales reps have more than 100 years of combined experience), have fueled growth of 40 to 50 percent each year. Recent projects include the Horizon Air bay and a restaurant at Portland International Airport. Haasl said sales were about $2 million in 2010; he expects to up that to $7 million in 2015.

The company now employs 20 full-time staff. In addition, they keep about 60 independent contractors busy on a steady basis (a 600 percent increase over 2010). Licensed in four states (WA, OR, ID and ND), Haasl is considering opening a second location in Clark County, and perhaps an office in the Tri-Cities area. The goal, said Haasl, is to maintain modest growth of 10 to 15 percent annually.

Mill Creek PubMill Creek Pub

From its opening day in 2011, Mill Creek Pub has been “connecting the community with food made from the heart.” A combination of community service and unique culinary experience, along with strategic management leadership training, has enabled the pub to sustain significant growth each year – this is the third year the pub has been in the running for a Business Growth Award. 2014 sales were up 28.3 percent over 2013, and the pub added eight new jobs in 2014, bringing the total to 55. The pub participates in many unique events each year, such as the Chef Hop & Vine on April 30th. Live music, a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and prime rib every Friday are just some of the reasons for the pub’s continued popularity.

This year the pub is a Clark County Fair sponsor and owner Russell Brent, with three decades of business experience, has joined the Clark College Foundation board (he also chairs the board for Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the board for the Clark County Skills Center and Wine & Food Society of Clark County).

“A successful community supports successful business,” said Lori Lindberg, leader of the pub’s marketing team.

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