The top spot in the 2019 Bulldog 100 ranking of fastest-growing companies went to Terminus, an Atlanta-based firm headed by Terry alumnus Eric Spett (BBA ’10).
“I’m so proud to be recognized alongside all these great businesses,” said Spett, the company’s CEO and co-founder. “My entrepreneurial journey started in earnest at UGA. Being honored nine years later as the fastest-growing Bulldog business is a huge honor.”
Terminus is a business-to-business platform for account-based marketing. It provides users with digital tools to build, operate and measure advertising initiatives.
The Bulldog 100 annually celebrates the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by UGA alumni.
Exactly half of this year’s Bulldog 100 businesses included graduates from Terry College, including seven in the top 10. Following Terminus at No. 1, the top 10 featured:
2. Currie Design and Build, C. Brent Currie (BBA ’98) and W. Michael Dempsey (AB ’94)
3. MAB Corporate Advisors, Michael Blumenfeld (BBA ’84)
4. RCS Garage Doors, Amber Signore (BBA ’06)
5. Inspirion Biosciences, Craig Reed (PhD ’95)
6. Sunnyboy Entertainment LLC, Harold Hayes Jr. (ABJ ’01) and Craig Phillips (ABJ ’02)
7. XY Planning Network, Alan Moore (BSFCS ’09, MS ’12)
8. Ansley Atlanta Real Estate, Bonneau Ansley (BBA ’99)
9. BOS Security Incorporated, Nat Carmack (AB ’67, MEd ’72) and Nat Carmack (BBA ’93)
10. Robinson Key, Betsy Robinson (BBA ’04)
“We celebrated a decade of recognizing more than 650 business leaders and the economic impact their businesses have had on our state and country. The Bulldog 100 program continues to show both the power of small business as an economic driver as well as the amazing accomplishments of UGA alumni,” said Meredith Gurley Johnson, executive director of the UGA Alumni Association. “We are proud to celebrate their achievements.”
The Atlanta office of Warren Averett partnered with the UGA Alumni Association to review financial records of the nominated businesses to determine the 2019 ranking. Nominations were accepted between February and May 2018, and approximately 500 nominations were received. Each organization must have been in business since 2013, experienced revenues in excess of $100,000 for the calendar year 2014, and be owned or operated by a former UGA student who owns at least 50 percent of the company or is the CEO, president or managing partner.
The Bulldog 100 recognizes the businesses regardless of size by focusing on a three-year compounded annual growth rate. The average compounded annual growth rate for this year’s Bulldog 100 businesses was 62 percent, a record high.
This year’s keynote speaker was Alan Masarek (BBA ’82), CEO of Vonage. Masarek is an innovator with deep experience in mobile, SMB and enterprise sectors, serving most recently as Google’s director of Chrome and apps. Masarek also co-founded Quickoffice, a two-time Bulldog 100 business, and served as its CEO from 2007 to 2012.
During the event, the UGA Alumni Association also presented the second annual Michael J. Bryan Award to Ron Holt (BS ’83), CEO and founder of Two Maids and A Mop, in Birmingham, Ala.
Bryan (BBA ’89), co-founder and managing partner of Vino Venue and Atlanta Wine School in Dunwoody, passed away in 2017 after a long battle with cancer. The award recognizes a returning Bulldog 100 honoree whose business has not only sustained growth, but also demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to UGA that was a hallmark of Bryan.
For more information about the Michael J. Bryan Scholarship or to view the complete list of 2019 Bulldog 100 businesses, visit www.alumni.uga.edu/b100.
Nominations for the 2020 Bulldog 100 open Feb. 15.