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FORTUNE CALLS TALX ONE OF NATION'S
100 FASTEST ROWING
Human resource services company TALX Corporation is one of the 100 fastest growing, publicly-traded small businesses in America, according to FORTUNE Small Business magazine’s July/August issue. The company ranked No. 48, two spots higher than last
year’s ranking, with $124.9 million in revenue and 58.5 percent growth in revenue over a three-year period.
The rankings were based on earnings growth, revenue growth and stock performance. FORTUNE Small Business and Zacks Investment Research evaluated public companies traded on major exchanges with $200 million or less in annual revenue.
U.S. NEWS RANKS
BARNES-JEWISH NO. 8
For the 12th consecutive year, Barnes-Jewish Hospital is listed among America’s elite medical centers on the U.S. News & World Report “Honor Roll,” coming in at No. 8 in the nation. The 2004 guide to “America’s Best Hospitals” appeared in the July 12 issue of the
magazine.
Of the 6,102 hospitals in the nation, only hospitals earning high marks in six or more of 17 select specialties make the “Honor Roll” of America’s best hospitals. Barnes-Jewish placed among the top 10 in seven specialties and was ranked in nine additional specialties. It was the only hospital within a 500-mile radius of St. Louis to make the “Honor Roll.”
PANERA NO. 4
FASTEST-GROWING RESTAURANT
St. Louis-based Panera Bread Co. ranks No. 4 among the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the United States, according to an annual report produced by Technomic Inc., a food service consulting firm. Panera earned its ranking with sales growth of 29 percent from 2002 to 2003. Top-ranked Chipotle experienced 43 percent growth, and Quiznos grew 33 percent to earn the
No. 2 spot. Buffalo Wild Wings ranked No. 3 with a 29 percent increase.
U.S. system-wide sales for the Top 100 restaurants rose $7.3 billion to an estimated $150.3 billion in 2003, according to Technomic.
FOUR LAND ON STORES MAGAZINE’S TOP 100
Four St. Louis-area retailers ranked among STORES magazine’s Top 100 Retailers list in the July issue.
May Department Stores was the highest-ranked St. Louis company at No. 21, with estimated sales of $13.3 billion. Earth City, Mo.-based CCA Global Partners held the
No. 35 spot with sales of $8 billion. The Medicine Shoppe and Schnuck Markets came in at No. 88 and No. 91, respectively, with estimated sales of approximately $2.2 billion each.
Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., topped the list and dwarfed the competition with $258.7 billion in sales for 2003, leaving second-placed Home Depot lagging behind with sales of $64.8 billion.
BOB KOLASKI FEATURED IN ESPN MAGAZINE
By Bill Beggs Jr.
On a 97-degree July afternoon at Busch Stadium, with a heat index of 110, the concept of “warming up” seems rather redundant. Still, the St. Louis Cardinals prepared for their evening game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium, stretching on the outfield grass, or taking practice swings inside the batting cage.
Bob Kolaski was getting ready, too. Like any competitor, the longtime Sportservice beer vendor emphasizes that he must prepare for his evening’s work—both mentally and physically. Kolaski, 59, has worked the Busch Stadium aisles since 1975. He recently caught the eye of ESPN writer Jim Caple. Inspired by Kolaski’s moxie, Caple strapped on a tubful of Coke and tried his luck hawking cold drinks. (It did not go well; Caple acknowledged he might have had more luck selling water to a burning man.) Meanwhile, Kolaski darted up and down the aisles for his fans, many of who’ve had box seats in his section for 30 years or more.
Kolaski has sold suds at Billikens, Blues and Rams contests, too. At a football game, he has to raise his voice even more: “It’s a loud crowd. I get hoarse,” Kolaski says. “But you have to be a hustler to make any money.”
It pays off. Loyal fans may come looking for him somewhere on the field box level. He knows many by name, and carries candy for their kids. All the while he’s calculating: who, in what row and seat, has nearly finished a $6 beer? Who might be ready for another? How to get back to that thirsty fan while keeping other customers satisfied along the way?
Meanwhile, his personal safety is not guaranteed. Not long ago, he says, a J.D. Drew line drive “almost took my arm off!” He stresses how important it is to keep your eye on the ball.
Nicknamed “Roadrunner,” Kolaski shrugs about retirement. His life outside the ballpark includes his own catering company, but before turning in his tub, Kolaski hopes to see his fifth World Series, as well as an All-Star Game.
Kolaski’s stats include one that may propel him into the mythical Beer Vending Hall of Fame. Working a Cards-Cubs doubleheader one 95-degree day, Kolaski sold 47 cases of beer.
Repeating: 47.
Afterwards, he was thirsty—but not for beer.
“If I’m out there fishing, I like to have a beer,” he says. “With ice.”
TWENTY-SIX MAKE “BEST
WORKPLACES FOR
COMMUTERS”
The St. Louis Region’s Best Workplaces for Commuters Coalition has recognized 26 area employers as the area’s “Best Workplaces for Commuters.” Employers were selected based on the commuting benefits they provide their employees.
- Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin
- Center for Financial Training
- Citizens for Modern Transit
- Defense Contract Management Agency,
St. Louis
- Department of Veterans Affairs, St. Louis
- Development Strategies
- The Experiment
- The Hauser Group
- Lashly & Baer
- Metro
- National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency
- National Park Service, Jefferson National
Expansion Memorial
- Public School Retirement
System of St. Louis
- Scott Air Force Base
- Southwestern Illinois College
- St. Louis Regional Chamber of
Growth Association
- The Stolar Partnership
- Thompson Coburn
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis
- U.S. Army Logistics
Systems Support Office
- U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development
- U.S. Internal Revenue Service
- U.S. Social Security Administration
- USDA Rural Development, St. Louis
- Washington University
- Washington University
School of Medicine
The St. Louis Region’s Best Workplaces for Commuters Coalition is a collaboration of the EPA, the American Lung Association, Citizens for Modern Transit, RideFinders, the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership and other local organizations. |
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