Fifty Arizona Second-Stage Businesses Honored as 2008 Comerica Bank Arizona Companies...

Fifty Arizona Second-Stage Businesses Honored as 2008 Comerica Bank Arizona
Companies to Watch

PHOENIX, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ASBA (Arizona Small Business
Association), in collaboration with the Edward Lowe Foundation, announces the
2008 Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch awardees. With more than 80,000
second-stage growth companies around the state, ASBA traveled to cities,
statewide to share the opportunity to recognize Arizona companies on the fast
track. More than 300 Arizona based companies were nominated for the chance to
be selected as a 2008 Arizona Company to Watch.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010807/CMALOGO )
Research has shown that these firms show the greatest potential and
results. They span all industries and they are creating jobs at a
disproportionate rate as compared to their larger and smaller counterparts
even in a down market. "Of all resident establishments in Arizona, 12% are
second stage companies, and those companies create 41.6% of the jobs in the
state," according to research by the Edward Lowe Foundation. "That's 3.5%
higher than the U.S. average," stated Joan Koerber-Walker, ASBA CEO.
The 2008 Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch Awardees will be honored
at the third annual awards ceremony November 11 the Phoenix Convention Center
from 6-9 p.m. In addition, five companies will receive the Spotlight Awards in
the following areas: Company Culture, Customer Service, Change/Innovation,
Community and Commerce at the event. Until then, Spotlight Awardees are top
secret.
"Companies like the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch are one of
the reasons that Arizona leads the country in economic growth. Through the
efforts of great employees who deliver innovative products and services, these
companies are growing at over four times the national average!" says Joan
Koerber-Walker, CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association. "ASBA is proud
to be recognizing and supporting this growing community of excellent
companies," Koerber-Walker adds.
"Second-stage entrepreneurs are very important in this region, generating
jobs and sustaining economic growth. Working with ASBA, we have a chance to
recognize these companies' impact, and to help build a self-help network,"
said Meredith Russell, president of Comerica Bank in Arizona.
"Comerica Bank Companies to Watch is a unique awards program designed to
shine the spotlight on second-stage companies," says Penny Lewandowski,
director of entrepreneurship at the Edward Lowe Foundation, a not-for-profit
operating foundation based in Michigan. The foundation supports
entrepreneurship through research, recognition and educational programs, which
are delivered through entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) like ASBA,
with a focus on second-stage companies.
The research Koerber-Walker refers to comes from YourEconomy(TM)
(www.youreconomy.org), a new online tool created by the foundation to track
business activity through time. YourEconomy enables users to see key trends
and view their business communities from a new perspective.
"Comerica Bank partnered with ASBA in support of Arizona's small
businesses community. It is companies like these who are the bedrock of our
economy. If you are looking for examples of companies that demonstrate
business excellence and inspiring levels of growth, you need to look no
further than this 2008 class of Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch"
shared Rick Danford, First Vice President of Small Business Banking at
Comerica Bank, Arizona.
The 2008 Awardees are:

Able Information Technologies, Inc., Chandler
ActiveForever, Scottsdale
AllSource Global Management, LLC, Sierra Vista
ATS Electric, Inc., Phoenix
Autohaus Arizona, Inc., Phoenix
Caliente Construction, Inc., Mesa
CCS Presentation Systems, Scottsdale
CellTrust Corp., Scottsdale
Collins Holdings, LLC., Tempe
Company Nurse, LLC., Scottsdale
CRS Temporary Housing, Phoenix
Electronic Payment Providers, Inc., Phoenix
EventPro Strategies, Tempe
FlexPrint, Inc., Tempe
Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C., Tucson
Hospitality Performance Network, Scottsdale
iMemories, Scottsdale
Job Brokers Inc., Tempe
Killer Shade, Phoenix
Kutta Consulting, Inc., Phoenix
Kyle Jones Enterprises, Inc., Phoenix
Lapre Scali & Company, Scottsdale
Lensco, Phoenix
Logan Commercial Advisors, Scottsdale
McFadden/Gavender Advertising, Inc., Tucson
MKS Graphics, Inc., Tempe
Morrison & Associates, CPAs PLLC., Chandler
MSS Technologies, Inc., Phoenix
My Computer Works, Scottsdale
Nutri-Health, LLC., Cottonwood
Orca Communications Unlimited, LLC., Phoenix
Orchard Medical Consulting, Phoenix
Paragon Space Development Corporation, Tucson
Pragmatic Marketing, Scottsdale
Precision Trials, LLC., Phoenix
Primus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Scottsdale
Professional Employment Solutions, Inc., Scottsdale
Realty DataTrust Corp., Scottsdale
Sierra Toyota, Sierra Vista
Silverado Cable Company, Mesa
Sindel Technology Solutions, Inc., Tempe
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe
SpringBoard, Inc., Phoenix
StaffingMedical USA Inc., Scottsdale
Telesphere, Scottsdale
Terralever LLC., Tempe
The Arizona Car Wash Company, Phoenix
The Lavidge Company, Scottsdale
TriSports.com, Tucson
Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, Tucson

Companies considered for the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch list
are second-stage companies. For purposes of this award, they are defined as
having 10 to 100 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to
$100 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants. In
addition, the companies must be privately held and headquartered in Arizona.
Judges evaluated the companies for their demonstrated intent and capacity
to grow based on one or more of the following
-- Employee or sales growth.
-- Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership.
-- Sustainable competitive advantage.
-- Other notable factors that showcase the company's success.

Information about Arizona Companies to Watch can be found at www.asba.com
and www.AzCompaniesToWatch.org. To register a table or purchase individual
tickets, call 480-403-4601.
Following the Nov. 11 celebration, the 50 companies selected as 2008
Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch join with 100 past winners from 2006
and 2007 in the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch Alliance an ongoing
experience designed specifically to support companies on the growth path.
Programs like this are made possible by community partners and sponsors.
ASBA recognizes Comerica Bank, Telesphere, Republic Media, Jobing.com, Compass
Insurance, Staples, Televerde, APS/AAAME, SCF Arizona, The Lavidge Company,
1510 KFNN Financial News Radio, Infusionsoft, Corporate Broadcast Center,
Arizona Department of Commerce, Metro Studios and KAET Eight their
contribution to second-stage companies.
SOURCE Comerica Bank

Joan Koerber-Walker of ASBA, +1-480-332-9636, or Sherry Azzarella, VP
Marketing and Communications, +1-602-265-4563