EPS PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press information contact:
Darla Guevremont
Executive Protection Systems
540-662-4640

VIRGINIA CHAMBER ANNOUNCES "FANTASTIC 50” COMPANIES for 2008

Winchester, VA (February 1, 2008)—The Virginia Chamber of Commerce has announced the names of the companies who made the 2008 "Fantastic Fifty" list of 50 of the fastest-growing companies in the state. The companies, whose products and services ranged from biometrics used to track terrorists to transformers, were saluted at the annual awards banquet held at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly on May 1.

“From Wytheville to Chesapeake and from Fairfax to Virginia Beach, the Fantastic 50 companies represent the diversity and vibrancy of small businesses throughout Virginia, said Hugh Keogh, President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber.  Their entrepreneurial spirit fuels the economic engine of the Commonwealth.”

The ceremony also recognizes the companies with the highest growth rates in five categories with the Virginia Vanguard Awards. This year the Virginia Vanguard winner for Highest Growth Overall is Oberon Associates, Inc. of Manassas. Oberon, who specializes in providing engineering and IT services to the U.S. military, topped the list with an amazing growth rate of 4731% over a four year period (2003 to 2006).  The Virginia Vanguard winner’s list also included: Technology: Ace Info Solutions Inc. of Reston, an IT consulting firm that designs and maintains computer software; Manfacturing: Service Center Metals in Prince George, a top player in the aluminum extrusion market; Service: TRINITY Construction Group Inc., a commercial construction company based in Herndon; and Retail/Wholesale: Dominion Equipment Parts LLC in Ashland, a distributor of mini-excavators.

Syndicated columnist, Verne Harnish delivered the keynote remarks at the event. Harnish is founder of two world-renowned entrepreneurship organizations, the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization (YEO) and the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs (ACE). He is also presently founder and CEO of Gazelles, Inc., which serves as an outsourced corporate university for mid-size firms.

The Fantastic 50 award program is sponsored by the Virginia Chamber, Virginia Business Magazine, Goodman & Company, SunTrust Bank, Westfields Marriott, Alion Science & Technology, SAIC, In Your Ear Creative Post and VisualCV, Inc.

Nominations for the Fantastic 50 were sought statewide from local chambers, economic development organizations, small business development centers and through the sponsors’ networks. Companies could also nominate themselves. To be eligible, companies were required to be privately held, with headquarters in Virginia, and to show sales between $200,000 and $100 million.  They were judged on a four-year sales revenue history. Verification of all award entries was conducted by the accounting firm of Goodman and Company.

            The list of Fantastic 50 winners by numerical ranking follows:

Virginia’s Fantastic 50 Winners for 2008

1.         Oberon Associates Inc., Manassas
2.         TRINITY Group Construction Inc., Herndon
3          T-Solutions Inc., Chesapeake
4          Service Center Metals, Prince George
5          Executive Protection Systems, Winchester
6          Ace Info Solutions Inc., Reston
7          Kadix Systems, Arlington
8          Competitive Innovations LLC, Fairfax
9          Advanced Systems Inc., Fairfax
10         Customer Value Partners, Fairfax
11         Capterra, Arlington
12         Cascades Technologies Inc., Herndon
13         Webster Data Communication Inc., Fairfax
14         Automation Technologies Inc, Vienna
15         RNB Technologies Inc., Arlington
16         PRO-telligent LLC, Arlington
17         International Communications Group, Newport News Beach
18         Rocket Direct Communication Inc., Virginia Beach
19         Ventera Corporation, Reston
20         Ironworks Consulting LLC, Glen Allen
21         V2 Systems Inc., Manassas
22         Tauri Group LLC, Alexandria
23         XIO STRATEGIES INC, McLean
24         ActioNet Inc., Fairfax
25         Electronic Consulting Services Inc. (ECS), Fairfax
26         Imagine One Technology & Management  Ltd., Colonial Beach
27         Preferred Systems Solutions Inc., McLean
28         Universal Consulting Services Inc., Fairfax
29         The Goal Inc., Ashburn
30         Bay Electric Co.  Inc., Newport News
31         Dominion Equipment Parts LLC, Ashland
32         Apex-2000 Inc., Chantilly
33         Financial Investments Inc., Herndon
34         National Corporate Housing, Herndon
35         Adaptive Technologies Inc., Blacksburg
36         Fortessa, Sterling
37         Liberty Tax Service, Virginia Beach
38         AdvanceTEC  LLC, Richmond
39         Innovative Wireless Technologies, Arlington
40         Gibbs & Cox Inc., Arlington
41         The Kerner Group, Williamsburg
42         Mid Atlantic Vinyl Products Inc., Fredericksburg
43         MTC Transformers, Wytheville
44         Kearney & Company, Alexandria
45         RightMinds Inc., Richmond
46         Coresix Precision Glass Inc., Williamsburg
47         Access Systems Inc., Reston
48         Todo Inc.; t/a Todos Supermarket, Woodbridge
49         Amthor International, Gretna
50         Dynamic Systems Technology Inc. (DSTI), Fairfax

Executive Protection Systems, headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, is a small, service-disabled veteran-owned business dedicated to providing the finest WMD, industrial safety protective equipment, training and consulting services nationwide. EPS corporate headquarters is located at 230 Aviation Drive in Winchester. Website: www.epssafety.com.

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