Naperville Businesses on Inc. Magazine's List of Nation's Fastest Growing Companies

Eight Naperville businesses recently gained national attention, joining the ranks of Inc. magazine's top 5,000 fastest growing U.S. companies.

Impact Advisors, SatisfYd, Benzara, AST, AMBC, Terra Information Group, Royal Cyber and Sikich LLP are among the country's fastest growing companies, according to the new Inc. Magazine rankings.

The Inc. 5000 list of 2013's fastest growing companies includes 261 Illinois businesses employing more than 93,000 people. An eclectic array of industries made the list, from a media company for photographer moms and a suburban restaurant and winery chain to traditional insurance companies and construction firms.

One might think that Chicago-based firms would dominate the list — and 91 of the businesses call the city of broad shoulders home — but more than half are in the suburbs, with 19 in towns far downstate or well outside the metro area. The suburb with the most firms on the Inc. 5000 list is Schaumburg, with 13, followed by Oak Brook with 10 and Naperville with eight.

In the last three years, 22 of the companies experienced a growth rate over 1,000 percent.

Writes Inc. magazine:

Management author Hermann Simon calls companies like these hidden champions, because they deliver outstanding performance while operating "in the 'hinterland' of the value chain, supplying machinery, components, or processes that are no longer discernible in the final product or service." As such, they are the sinews of our economic physiology. But jobs are also created by the thousands of organizations that constitute the Inc. 5000's customers. ...

The National Center for the Middle Market describes companies such as those on the Inc. 5000 as "model links" in corporate supply chains. ... These businesses make and keep American companies competitive: Within their niches, they are as innovative and service oriented as the most beloved household names. But rather than strategize to build brands, they earn reputations simply by virtue of how well they do what they do. They grow reference by reference until every customer in their markets knows whom to call."

Here's the scoop on the Naperville businesses that made the list this year:

No. 252: Benzara

Founded in 2009, Benzara "supplies and imports decorative accessories, home furnishings, and giftware sold through Internet retailers."

The company has posted a 1,702 percent growth in revenue in the past three years, increasing earnings from $112,000 in 2009 to $2 million in 2012.

There are currently 5 employees, 3 of which have been added in the past three years, according to Inc.

No. 1,325: Impact Advisors

Founded in 2007, Impact Advisors "provides consulting services to the health care industry by partnering with integrated delivery networks, academic medical centers, medical groups and community hospitals across the country," according to Inc. Magazine.

Impact Advisors currently has 140 employees, and has added 103 jobs in the past three years. The company raised its annual revenue from $9.8 million in 2009 to $39.5 million in 2012, according to Inc.

No. 1,720: AST

AST, founded in 1995, "specializes in Oracle ERP systems integration, and is staffed exclusively with full-time employees who are Oracle-certified and experts in industry business practices," according to Inc.

The company raised its annual revenue from $13.2 million in 2009 to $43 million in 2012. 

There are currently 27 employees.

No. 1,802: AMBC

Founded in 2001, AMBC "provides a wide range of SAP services, including project implementation, contingent staffing, training, and outsourcing," according to Inc. Magazine.

AMBC currently has 40 employees, and has added 20 jobs in the past three years. The company raised its annual revenue from $674,000 in 2009 to $2.1 million in 2012, according to Inc.

No. 3,408: Terra Information Group

Founded in 1997, Terra Information Group "provides SAP consulting, training and support to businesses throughout the United States and Canada," according to Inc. Magazine.

Terra Information Group currently has 26 employees, and has added 16 jobs in the past three years. The company raised its annual revenue from $2.3 million in 2009 to $4.4 million in 2012, according to Inc.

See the full "2013 Inc. 5000" list here.