Loudoun’s Top-40 Rapid Growth Companies of the Last Decade
In the decade following the heart of the economic recession, Loudoun County, Va., has provided a fertile ecosystem for rapid-growth businesses.
Since 2010, 111 Loudoun-based companies have been named to the prestigious, annual Inc. 5000 list, bringing home a combined 212 awards and ranking as high as 10th on the list of fastest-growing, privately-owned U.S. businesses.
ALSO READ: Loudoun is Home to 29 of the Fastest-Growing U.S. Companies
Inc. 5000 awardees submit company revenues from the previous three years and are ranked based on percentage growth. Loudoun awardees hail from all corners of the county and represent most of our major industries, from high tech to agriculture, real estate and construction to government contracting.
In celebration of our 40th anniversary of economic development in the county, here’s a look at Loudoun’s top-40 rapid-growth companies over the last decade, ranked by their largest year of percentage growth, and listing other years that they made the list:
RankCompanyLargest GrowthLargest YearOther Top-5000 Years 1FedBiz IT Solutions12621%20162017-2019 2IZ Technologies6102%2010 3The Millennium Group International2758%20132014-2015, 2018 4XGILITY2709%20152016-2018 5ARM Consulting2230%20182019 6Oseth Group2107%2019 7FreeAlliance.com1952%20132018-2019 8Allied Mission Group1725%2018 9PAE (formerly FCi Federal)1686%20122013-2017 10iQuasar1558%20132014 11All Points Broadband1501%20182019 12Knight Solutions1472%20132014 13Bell Info Solutions1437%20152017 14Nivid Infotech1302%20182019 15Lakarya1180%2019 16Strongbridge1174%20132014-2017 17Paramount Business Jets1093%20132014, 2018 18Torin Consulting Inc.989%2018 19Red Rock Business Advisors966%20142015 20The Building People955%20192018 21Inductive Minds908%2014 22Cofense (formerly PhishMe)892%20152016-2018 23StanSource844%2012 24Cynet Systems797%20162017-2019 25Lowers Risk Group795%20162014-2015, 2017-2019 26KnowledgeBank715%20172018 27Pearson Smith Realty699%2019 28Stone Tower Winery668%20182019 29Mindseeker613%20112012, 2014-2015 30NeevSys593%2016 31New River Systems510%2014 32SQA Concepts505%2015 33Softrams478%2019 34TeleWorld Solutions469%20152016 35SMRC435%20122014 36Alliance Expositon Services402%20132014-2015 37Modern Mechanical388%20142015 38Everwatch Solutions (Ian, Evan and Alexander)349%20162014-2015, 2017 39Lynker Technologies330%20172016, 2018-2019 40Punch Cyber Analytics Group328%20172018FedBiz IT Solutions is a bonafide #LoudounPossible success story. The wife-husband team of Nina and Don Tiaga moved to Loudoun in 1995 after they both retired from military service.
“One of my last years in the Air Force, I was a computer programmer, working with multiple vendors and resellers. When I retired, I had multiple companies that wanted me to relocate up to this area for work,” Don explained.
“One day while I was at FedStore Corp., things weren’t going as well as I thought they were. I was thinking of leaving the company and Nina said, ‘We need to start our own company.’
“I said, ‘No,’ and she said, ‘Yes.’”
In 2016, FedBiz IT Solutions celebrated 12,621 percent growth and the title of 10th fastest-growing business in the U.S. They followed that up with 6,142 percent growth in 2017 and 3,384 percent growth in 2018. They were also the fastest growing business in Virginia in each of those three years.
“The governor of Virginia called us and congratulated us,” Don Tiaga said, recalling their 2016 award. “He told us the next time he sees us on a list of such, it should be in Forbes Magazine.”
The Tiagas credit the business environment in Leesburg and Loudoun for aiding in their growth.
“We’ve seen Loudoun County grow and prosper, being named one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States,” Don said. “The more companies that make the Inc. 5000 list, it’s just going to add to that.”
The Millennium Group International is another rapid-growth Loudoun success story. Since relocating his business to Sterling from a neighboring county, CEO Jeff Rocha has made the Inc. 5000 list four times, most recently in 2018.
Like so many small business owners, rapid growth was only possible after Rocha put everything on the line, including cashing in his 401k.
“As an entrepreneur, everyone gets paid before you. I couldn’t pay myself a nickel for 2.5 years. I was almost not a success story, but it really just took time. It was one big learning process. I used to not have any gray hair,” Rocha joked. “I learned by doing. I was able to work my plan and make it happen.
“For my story, there’s probably a couple hundred, that you never hear, who didn’t make it. That’s why people think that it’s easier than it is, because you’ll never hear it.
“There are reasons to be cautious [as a business owner], but the payoff for success can be tremendous.”
Rapid growth for farm businesses is also #LoudounPossible, as proven by Stone Tower Winery, which opened its doors in 2012.
Named to the 2018 and 2019 Inc. 5000 lists, Stone Tower represents what can happen when wine grapes and business goals reach maturity.
“Since we opened the Harvest Barn doors, we’ve been truly amazed by the amount of support we’ve received from our community and the incredible hard work and dedication our team shows day after day,” Stone Tower Winery Vice President Lacey Huber said. “We’re thrilled that this support and dedication is recognized with Stone Tower on the Inc. 5000 list.”
Whether you’re building a rapid-growth business or something more slow and steady, we’ll work with you to help make your business dreams #LoudounPossible. To learn more information, please contact our Business Development Officer Rick Morris by email or call 1-800-LOUDOUN.
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