PHOENIX, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ASBA (Arizona Small Business Association), in collaboration with the Edward Lowe Foundation, announces the 2008 Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch awardees. With more than 80,000 second-stage growth companies around the state, ASBA traveled to cities, statewide to share the opportunity to recognize Arizona companies on the fast track. More than 300 Arizona based companies were nominated for the chance to be selected as a 2008 Arizona Company to Watch.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010807/CMALOGO )

Research has shown that these firms show the greatest potential and results. They span all industries and they are creating jobs at a disproportionate rate as compared to their larger and smaller counterparts even in a down market. "Of all resident establishments in Arizona, 12% are second stage companies, and those companies create 41.6% of the jobs in the state," according to research by the Edward Lowe Foundation. "That's 3.5% higher than the U.S. average," stated Joan Koerber-Walker, ASBA CEO.

The 2008 Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch Awardees will be honored at the third annual awards ceremony November 11 the Phoenix Convention Center from 6-9 p.m. In addition, five companies will receive the Spotlight Awards in the following areas: Company Culture, Customer Service, Change/Innovation, Community and Commerce at the event. Until then, Spotlight Awardees are top secret.

"Companies like the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch are one of the reasons that Arizona leads the country in economic growth. Through the efforts of great employees who deliver innovative products and services, these companies are growing at over four times the national average!" says Joan Koerber-Walker, CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association. "ASBA is proud to be recognizing and supporting this growing community of excellent companies," Koerber-Walker adds.

"Second-stage entrepreneurs are very important in this region, generating jobs and sustaining economic growth. Working with ASBA, we have a chance to recognize these companies' impact, and to help build a self-help network," said Meredith Russell, president of Comerica Bank in Arizona.

"Comerica Bank Companies to Watch is a unique awards program designed to shine the spotlight on second-stage companies," says Penny Lewandowski, director of entrepreneurship at the Edward Lowe Foundation, a not-for-profit operating foundation based in Michigan. The foundation supports entrepreneurship through research, recognition and educational programs, which are delivered through entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) like ASBA, with a focus on second-stage companies.

The research Koerber-Walker refers to comes from YourEconomy™ (http://www.youreconomy.org/), a new online tool created by the foundation to track business activity through time. YourEconomy enables users to see key trends and view their business communities from a new perspective.

"Comerica Bank partnered with ASBA in support of Arizona's small businesses community. It is companies like these who are the bedrock of our economy. If you are looking for examples of companies that demonstrate business excellence and inspiring levels of growth, you need to look no further than this 2008 class of Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch" shared Rick Danford, First Vice President of Small Business Banking at Comerica Bank, Arizona.

  The 2008 Awardees are:

  Able Information Technologies, Inc., Chandler
  ActiveForever, Scottsdale
  AllSource Global Management, LLC, Sierra Vista
  ATS Electric, Inc., Phoenix
  Autohaus Arizona, Inc., Phoenix
  Caliente Construction, Inc., Mesa
  CCS Presentation Systems, Scottsdale
  CellTrust Corp., Scottsdale
  Collins Holdings, LLC., Tempe
  Company Nurse, LLC., Scottsdale
  CRS Temporary Housing, Phoenix
  Electronic Payment Providers, Inc., Phoenix
  EventPro Strategies, Tempe
  FlexPrint, Inc., Tempe
  Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C., Tucson
  Hospitality Performance Network, Scottsdale
  iMemories, Scottsdale
  Job Brokers Inc., Tempe
  Killer Shade, Phoenix
  Kutta Consulting, Inc., Phoenix
  Kyle Jones Enterprises, Inc., Phoenix
  Lapre Scali & Company, Scottsdale
  Lensco, Phoenix
  Logan Commercial Advisors, Scottsdale
  McFadden/Gavender Advertising, Inc., Tucson
  MKS Graphics, Inc., Tempe
  Morrison & Associates, CPAs PLLC., Chandler
  MSS Technologies, Inc., Phoenix
  My Computer Works, Scottsdale
  Nutri-Health, LLC., Cottonwood
  Orca Communications Unlimited, LLC., Phoenix
  Orchard Medical Consulting, Phoenix
  Paragon Space Development Corporation, Tucson
  Pragmatic Marketing, Scottsdale
  Precision Trials, LLC., Phoenix
  Primus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Scottsdale
  Professional Employment Solutions, Inc., Scottsdale
  Realty DataTrust Corp., Scottsdale
  Sierra Toyota, Sierra Vista
  Silverado Cable Company, Mesa
  Sindel Technology Solutions, Inc., Tempe
  Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe
  SpringBoard, Inc., Phoenix
  StaffingMedical USA Inc., Scottsdale
  Telesphere, Scottsdale
  Terralever LLC., Tempe
  The Arizona Car Wash Company, Phoenix
  The Lavidge Company, Scottsdale
  TriSports.com, Tucson
  Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, Tucson

Companies considered for the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch list are second-stage companies. For purposes of this award, they are defined as having 10 to 100 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants. In addition, the companies must be privately held and headquartered in Arizona.

Judges evaluated the companies for their demonstrated intent and capacity to grow based on one or more of the following

  -- Employee or sales growth.
  -- Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership.
  -- Sustainable competitive advantage.
  -- Other notable factors that showcase the company's success.

Information about Arizona Companies to Watch can be found at http://www.asba.com/ and http://www.azcompaniestowatch.org/. To register a table or purchase individual tickets, call 480-403-4601.

Following the Nov. 11 celebration, the 50 companies selected as 2008 Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch join with 100 past winners from 2006 and 2007 in the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch Alliance an ongoing experience designed specifically to support companies on the growth path.

Programs like this are made possible by community partners and sponsors. ASBA recognizes Comerica Bank, Telesphere, Republic Media, Jobing.com, Compass Insurance, Staples, Televerde, APS/AAAME, SCF Arizona, The Lavidge Company, 1510 KFNN Financial News Radio, Infusionsoft, Corporate Broadcast Center, Arizona Department of Commerce, Metro Studios and KAET Eight their contribution to second-stage companies.

SOURCE: Comerica Bank

CONTACT: Joan Koerber-Walker of ASBA, +1-480-332-9636, or Sherry
Azzarella, VP Marketing and Communications, +1-602-265-4563

Web site: http://www.comerica.com/
http://www.youreconomy.org/
http://www.azcompaniestowatch.org/