Kitty Litter Inventor Created Opportunity for Entrepreneurs, Nationwide

Arizona - June 5, 2006-Arizona Companies to Watch Inaugural 2006 Class Celebrated in Style. Who would've thought that business inspirations and entrepreneurial fuel would come from the contents of kitty litter?

Fifty companies from Arizona were honored on June 1 at the debut of Arizona Companies to Watch award program, hosted by the Arizona Small Business Association and conducted by the Edward Lowe Foundation, a not-for-profit operating foundation whose mission is to "champion the entrepreneurial spirit' at the Biltmore Resort and Spa next to the hall where President Bill Clinton gave the address at a Democratic fund-raiser.

All 50 companies gathered at a dinner reception to celebrate as a group, before being announced and awarded on stage in front of a sold-out audience. Excitement filled the room as each company stepped into the spotlight and remained throughout the entire event.

"I have been to many awards programs and I don't remember going to one where I felt more energy in the room. It was like a really great party -- people were excited and having fun. And most telling of all, after the event people were hanging around talking, taking pictures, planning to go out to celebrate some more," stated Jan L. Smith, C.P.A., Senior Manager, Clifton Gunderson LLP and ASBA Board member.

The Honorable Governor Janet Napolitano broke away from the neighboring event and surprised the crowd as she climbed the stage. She read a Proclamation declaring June 1st 2006 AZ Companies to Watch Day. She rallied the audience, recognizing their contribution to the Arizona economy and conveyed her commitment to the second-stage business sector when making budgetary decisions for their future success.

"What a sparkling, inspirational event! As a Board member, I was filled with pride as I viewed that wonderfully decorated room, filled with more than 700 people, the proud and excited awardees, their friends, families and associates. When Governor Napalitano thanked ASBA, and read a proclamation declaring it "50 Arizona Companies to Watch Day" in Arizona, my heart thumped," commented Allan Starr ASBA President and Founder of Marketing Partners in Phoenix.

ASBA secured Robert Kiyosaki, financial guru and author of #1 New York Times Bestseller "Rich Dad Poor Dad" as the keynote speaker. Kiyosaki's address was humorous and insightful. He spoke about the key elements to success and denoted the most important factor was failure. He shared many stories that led to his personal success - but all of them included defeat. His moral was "you can't be afraid to fail or you will not find success." Robert's keynote was probably the only time the audience remained quiet.

In addition to the recognition all 50 2006 Arizona Companies to Watch received, five companies received Spotlight Awards for outstanding achievement in the following categories:

Cutting Edge Change - Machine Solutions Inc., Flagstaff

Creative Customer Service - Benjamin Franklin Plumbing- SE Valley

Community Compassion - Sitewire, Tempe

Cognitive Company Culture - The Real Learning Company, Scottsdale

Competitive Clout - The Apothecary Shops, Scottsdale
It was indeed a privilege to have been amongst the finest entrepreneurs the state of Arizona has to offer and to have been one of the Inaugural 2006 Class of winners of the big "50, " enthused Marilyn "Jo" Steeber, President/CEO, Native Tele-Data Solutions, Inc. "It was a beautiful and inspirational evening."

The following collection of 50 Arizona Companies to Watch for 2006 were honored at the awards banquet:

AGM Container Controls, Inc., Tucson
Howard Stewart, President/CEO

AIR Marketing, Tempe
Elaine Ralls, President

AmazingMail.com Inc., Scottsdale
Steve Wilen, CEO

American Janitorial Services, LLC, Scottsdale
Ron Busby, President

AmpliMed Corporation, Tucson
Robert Ashley, Chairman, CEO and President

Arizona Capacitors, LLC, Tucson
Anne Waisman, President

AZ Tech Radiology & Scan4Health, Casa Grande
Rocky Pahwa, Chairman & CEO

Baja Motorsports, Tempe
Richard Godfrey, President, CEO

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing-SE Valley, Gilbert
Linda Stanfield, Owner

Best Block & Pipe, Inc, Yuma
Phil Williams, Owner

BestBill, Phoenix
Daniel Haugland, CEO

Charlevoix Homes, Scottsdale
Michael Roberts, CEO

Construction Lots! Home Improvement Warehouse, Phoenix
Rick Werner, CEO

Creative Interiors, Prescott
Tanya Padgett, President

DBSI Incorporated, Chandler
Debra Dillon, President

Desert Best Distributing, Yuma
Frank Ruiz, Owner

Desert Fleet-Serv, Phoenix
Tom Cooper, C.E.O.

DollarDays, Scottsdale
Marc Joseph, CEO and Co-Founder

Dorn Homes Inc., Green Valley
David Grounds, President & CEO

GAME-Great American Merchandise and Events, Scottsdale
Eric Schechter, President

Great American Title Agency, Inc., Phoenix
Mark Bosco, Chairman

Hoque & Associates, Inc., Phoenix
Enamul Hoque, President

I-ology, Scottsdale
Trish Bear, President, Founder, CEO

Integrated Health Management Services, Phoenix
Betsy Moore, Principal

Interior Expressions Design Showroom, Oro Valleys
Betty Jones, Co-Owner

J2 Engineering and Environmental Design, Phoenix
Jeffrey Holzmeister, President

JLT Mobile Computers, Tempe
Todd Einck, CEO & Founder

Ken Kobs & Associates, Inc., Phoenix
Ken Kobs, President

Liquid Productions Inc., Mesa
Scott Miraglia, President

Machine Solutions Inc., Flagstaff
Daniel Kasprzyk, President & CEO

Massage Envy, Scottsdale
John Leonesio, CEO & Founder

McIntosh Engineering Incorporated, Tempe
Scott McIntosh, CEO

Mi Ranchito Mexican Food Products INC., Phoenix
Robert Murillo, President CEO

MistAMERICA Corp., Scottsdale
Jonathan Marsh, CEO

Native Tele-Data Solutions, Tucson
Marilyn Steeber, President

PremierGarage, Phoenix
Mark Loberg, Founder and CEO

Prescott Aerospace, Inc., Prescott Valley
Michael K. Dailey, President / General Manager

Protein Technologies, Inc., Tucson
Chris Patterson, President and CEO

SEBRA, Tucson
Roger Vogel, CEO

Shephard-Wesnitzer, Inc., Sedona
John Wesnitzer, President/CEO

Sitewire, Tempe
Margie Traylor, CEO

Syncardia, Tucson
Rodger Ford, President & CEO

The Adamson Group, dba Villagio Tile & Stone, Scottsdale
Douglas Adamson, President

The Apothecary Shops, Scottsdale
John Musil, President and CEO

The Granite Shop of Northern AZ, Inc., Prescott
Dee Spitler, President
The Real Learning Company, Scottsdale
Richard Hodge, President

Tucson Embedded Systems Inc, Tucson
Dennis Kenman, VP and Co-owner

Urban Forest Tree Care, Inc., Phoenix
Malia Griffin, CEO

ViewFinder Low Vision Resource Center, Sun City
Lynne Noon, Owner, Founder

VirtuRad, Inc, Phoenix
Hirsch Handmaker, Chairman and CEO

"ASBA and the Edward Lowe Foundation could not be more pleased with the feedback we received from the Second-stage business community," proclaimed Tom Fraker, Executive Director of ASBA. "Apparently we struck a chord that harmonized with the needs of these companies on a statewide level - they are thrilled to have an identity as Second-stage," Fraker said.

Second Stage Story and how it landed in AZ

Second -stage companies are critical, but often overlooked, drivers of the state's economy, which is why it is time to shine the spotlight on their endeavors and take a closer look at their industries. This is a great opportunity to get an inside perspective - to find out who they are and what they do for Arizona business standards.

The defining characteristics of second-stage enterprises for the Arizona Companies to Watch program are: annual revenue or working capital of between $1 million and $100 million, 10 to 100 employees, and the "intent and capacity to grow." Second-stage companies are past the start-up phase; are generally concerned with issues of growth, not survival and have not yet become large corporations. Such enterprises are important economically because they create a substantial portion of the net new jobs each year.

Tom Fraker, the Executive Director of the Arizona Small Business Association, an organization serving 3,000 member businesses throughout Arizona noticed nearly one-third of ASBA's membership fit the Second-stage criteria and wanted to learn more to serve their needs. Knowing there are only a handful of like organizations to ASBA in the nation, he aligned with the National Small Business Association and the Small Business Association of Michigan, then met Mark Lange, Executive Director of the Edward Lowe Foundation - and there was the synergy he sought.

Together, they educated Arizona businesses and gained support from the community and sponsoring partners, then ventured on a statewide publicity tour to increase nominations and applications to create an evening event to award growing, second-stage companies and gather an audience to pay homage to their hard work, dedication and contribution to economic development.

"We were especially excited to work in Arizona, which is a leader in recognizing the value of second-stage entrepreneurs," said Mark Lange, executive director of the Edward Lowe Foundation. "ASBA also understands that celebrating dynamic second-stage companies is the first step in bringing those entrepreneurs together to learn from each other's hard-won experience in growing a company."

Beginning in late February, more than 280 companies nominated businesses for the award. Of those nominated, 173 applied. Of those companies 108 were selected by the Edward Lowe Foundation and ASBA for the next round of judging. In early April, 12 appointed judges gathered in a day-long process and selected the final fifty. After a brief due-diligence period, the inaugural group was named.

Between the ASBA staff, photographers and sponsors, more than 4,000 miles were traveled on Arizona roads to gain publicity for nominations and the event and to photograph and interview the fifty companies.

Governor's Quote:

"I am pleased and proud to congratulate this inaugural group of 50 'Companies to Watch' in Arizona for 2006. These vital businesses are growing, second-stage companies, and are key components of the engine that drives our economy forward. They create new, sustainable jobs each year, and they are innovators that are willing to take significant, but calculated, risks to produce new products and services," said Governor Janet Napolitano. "The 'Companies to Watch' awards encourage us all to see more clearly how successful businesses pursue innovation, interact with their communities and treat their employees.

Knowledge can, in turn, enable our state to nurture second-stage companies, increasing the benefits our citizens can derive from endorsing a dynamic entrepreneurial economy," Napolitano concluded.

Sponsors:

Arizona Companies to Watch was sponsored by: National Bank of Arizona, Microsoft Small Business Specialists, Merrill Lynch, APS/AAAME, Compass Insurance, Arizona Department of Commerce, Staples, SCF Arizona, Jenning, Strouss & Salmon P.L.C., AZ Business Magazine, KFNN 1510 Financial News Radio and KAET Eight Small Business Partners.

Contact

Sherryt Azzarella
Communications/Sales Director
Arizona Small Business Association
4130 East Van Buren St., Suite 150
Phoenix, AZ 85008
Phone: 602-265-4563/Fax: 602-265-3681

Tom Fraker
Executive Director
Arizona Small Business Association
4130 East Van Buren St., Suite 150
Phoenix, AZ 85008
Phone: 602-265-4563/Fax: 602-265-3681