Ann Arbor SPARK Awards 2008 FastTrack to 12 Washtenaw Companies

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 12 -- As part of the Washtenaw Economic Club's Luncheon, Ann Arbor SPARK today awarded the 2008 FastTrack awards. Honoring 12 Washtenaw County companies, Ann Arbor SPARK's FastTrack awards recognize outstanding business success.

"Especially in a tough economy, consistent business growth is an accomplishment to be celebrated," said Michael A. Finney, Ann Arbor SPARK CEO. "Ann Arbor SPARK applauds the 2008 FastTrack winners for contributing to the success of our region through their business growth and leadership."

Administered and funded by Weidmayer, Schneider, Raham & Bennett, FastTrack was founded in 1997 and is an annual program sponsored by Ann Arbor SPARK recognizing companies in Washtenaw County for outstanding business success.

Awards are presented to companies with consistent records of growth, defined as:

  -- Public or private company headquartered in Washtenaw County.

  -- At least $100,000 gross revenue.

  -- Average growth of 20 percent for the following three years.


  Receiving a one year FastTrack award are:

-- LLamasoft Inc., based in Ann Arbor, provides software and expertise to design and optimize chain network operations.

-- Saline Lectronics, based in Saline, is the leading electronic manufacturing services and solution provider in printed circuit board assembly.

-- University Bancorp, Inc., based in Ann Arbor, is an FDIC insured, locally owned and locally managed Community Bank primarily serving the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

Receiving a two year FastTrack award are:

-- ForeSee Results, an Ann Arbor company that is a market leader in online customer satisfaction measurement and management.

-- Latitude Consulting Group, based in Saline, is a senior technology consultancy that helps the extended enterprise improve operational performance.

-- Shepherd Advisors, Ann Arbor business management consulting firm focused on building "clean tech" value chain capacity in Michigan and the Midwest.

Receiving a three year FastTrack are:

-- AKASHA (ACI), based in Ann Arbor, designs, manufactures, and imports decorative glass and stone products for leading retail chains and is a leader in high quality home decor accents used in floral display, candlescaping, aquarium and craft.

-- Adaptive Materials, Inc., an Ann Arbor company that develops and manufactures portable power created from solid oxide fuel cell technology.

-- Online Technologies Corporation, based in Ann Arbor, is a managed data center company.

-- Soft-Link International Inc., an Ann Arbor consulting company that provides professional services and solutions to leading corporations to manage IT staffing and project needs.

Receiving a four year FastTrack award are:

-- HealthMedia, Inc., based in Ann Arbor, is the market leader in behavior change through individually tailored self-management programs for healthy lifestyle issues and health conditions.

-- Menlo Innovations, LLC, an Ann Arbor software design and development firm.

ABOUT ANN ARBOR SPARK

Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is the driving force establishing the Ann Arbor region as a destination for business expansion, retention, and location by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage, from startups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK represents all communities in the Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, the Herbert and Grace Dow Foundation, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborSPARK.org.