Hundreds
of regional technology companies have a formidable presence in this
century’s “New Economy.”
Only the fastest growing technology
companies, in terms of revenue over a five-year period, are
recognized in the St. Louis Regional FAST 50 Technology Awards, but
the region’s strength in this arena is much greater than just these
entities.
“The metropolitan area is home to
technology companies, biotech start-ups, telecom giants and plant
science ground breakers,” notes Chris Byrnes, RCGA vice chairman for
Science and Technology and Technology Gateway Chair. “The
RCGA-commissioned Battelle study documented 1,200 life science
companies and 2,400 IT firms in the region. That’s 3,600 companies
just in these two high-tech clusters. With so much competition, it’s
really a special honor to be named in the FAST 50.”
The Technology Gateway Alliance, which in
part evolved from the then-RCGA FAST 50 Awards in 1996, today boasts
more than 300 members. Now in its second year, it is an alliance of
technology professionals and the research community coming together
in an effort to stimulate the development of the technology economy
in the St. Louis region.
The St. Louis Regional FAST 50 Awards are
co-presented by the St. Louis RCGA and Deloitte & Touche LLP.
The sponsors are A.G. Edwards, Armstrong Teasdale LLP, UMB Bank, St.
Louis Business Journal, St. Louis Commerce Magazine, KSDK
NewsChannel 5, KMOX News/Talk 1120 and the St. Louis Science Center.
The local program is one of 22 regional U.S. and Canadian FAST 50
programs. All regional FAST 50 companies are eligible for the
national FAST 500.
Held once again at the St. Louis Science
Center, the awards program and dinner is Thursday, Sept. 21.
The gala showcases the region’s fastest-growing, high-tech companies
that develop and/or provide technology-based products or services.
This includes technology production, manufacturing a
technology-related product or using technology in a unique,
problem-solving way.
Six companies—Cornerstone Solutions, The
Mattson Jack Group, SSE, Solutions Consultants, GA Sullivan and Wave
Technologies—are on the list for the fifth consecutive year. Most of
the FAST 50 are repeat winners with only eight companies represented
this year that weren’t on the list in 1999.
Presented on the following pages, in alphabetical
order by company, are the winners of the St. Louis Regional
FAST 50 Technology Awards. The FAST 50 ranking and top awards
will be announced at the September 21 dinner.
