Inc. Magazine Celebrates America’s Enduring Job Creators with The Build 100 Index of Sustained-Growth Companies
Pittsburgh, November 26, 2013 — Inc. magazine named Summa to The Build 100, a new business index that honors an elite tier of companies that have expanded their employment in each of the past five years. The index was created by studying the growth performance of millions of U.S. midmarket companies between 2007 and 2012. This inaugural list celebrates agile, enduring firms across a spectrum of industries, including IT services, transportation providers, marketing platforms, and dental services, among others.
The Build 100 is not just another business award; it is a predictive tool built on rigorous economic research showing the only statistically significant predictor of a company’s future success is sustained job growth over time. Every Build 100 company has added jobs in each of the last five years; a feat worth celebrating in any economic climate.
“Summa has experienced tremendous growth and accomplishments since our founding – especially in the last five years,” said Audrey Dunning, Summa’s Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to nearly tripling our team, we welcomed many new client partnerships and grew existing ones. Being recognized on the Build 100 list is an honor and speaks to our continued commitment to growth, solution expertise, and dedication to our relationships with our employees, customers and business partners.”
Inc. will unveil the full Build 100 list in its March 2014 issue, and on its affiliate website TheBuildNetwork.com in early 2014. To make the cut, companies had to have achieved employee growth in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Companies founded after 2008, or those with a current U.S. workforce smaller than 85 employees, were not considered. In addition, all Build 100 companies have agreed to participate in a year-long research initiative studying the key drivers of sustained growth.
“Seventy-two percent of all new U.S. jobs are created by 1 percent of companies,” says Inc. economist-in-residence Gary Kunkle. “The Build 100 represents that top 1 percent of that 1 percent. They should be celebrated, but they must also be studied so that we can better understand — and replicate — the decisions, priorities, investments, and strategies that helped them grow.”
About Summa
Summa is a passionate team that transforms businesses by making software work. Through a deep understanding of business issues, Summa delivers innovation that optimizes business processes and drives customer engagement. For more information, visit us at www.summa-tech.com or contact us at 412-258-3322.
About The Build Network
Founded in 2011 by two longtime editors of Inc., The Build Network is a management enterprise within Inc. that studies and serves sustained-growth companies with a special quarterly print section, a dynamic web site, live events, research endeavors, and The Build 100 index of sustained-growth firms. For more information, visit thebuildnetwork.com.
Methodology
The Build 100 is not ranked. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by December 31, 2008. They had to be U.S.-based, for profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies. The minimum number of employees for 2013 is 85; the minimum 2012 revenue was $8.5 million. All Build 100 companies must also agree to participate in a year-long research initiative studying the drivers of sustained growth. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for
subjective reasons. Companies on The Build 100 will be featured in the March 2014 issue on the affiliate website TheBuildNetwork.com.
