Fifty Leading Women Entrepreneurs Honored for Their Companies’ Rapid and Thriving Growth

The Women Presidents’ Organization and American Express Name 50
Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies at Ceremony in Baltimore

BALTIMORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Women
Presidents’ Organization (WPO), in partnership with American
Express (NYSE:AXP), today released the ninth annual ranking of the
50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies. The 50 Fastest generated a
combined $4.96 billion in 2015 revenues (mean of $99.2 million) and
collectively employed 44,744 in 2015 (mean of 1,028). The top three
honorees are:

• S’well, a New York City-based beverage bottle manufacturer, is
  the fastest growing women-owned business and newcomer to this year’s
  ranking. Over the past two years, the firm’s revenue ($2,517,155 in
  2013 to $47,245,079 in 2015) and employment (3 employees in 2013 to 40
  in 2015) skyrocketed. Sarah Kauss, chief executive officer, who owns
  100% of the firm, attributes business success to a sheer dedication to
  her company, hard work and belief in the product and the brand.
• Pinnacle Group, an IT workforce solutions firm based in Dallas,
  moves down to #2 from holding the top spot in 2015. Nina Vaca,
  president and chief executive officer, saw her 20-year-old company
  break the billion dollar barrier ($1,159,815,799 in 2015, up from
  $201,493,192 in 2013). The entrepreneur, who still owns 100% of the
  firm she founded at age 24 with $300 of startup capital, accredits
  “putting people first” as her number one strategy for her company’s
  Texas-sized growth.
• Fitness studio franchise Orangetheory Fitness, another newcomer
  to the list, is the third fastest-growing company. The six-year-old
  Fort Lauderdale, FL-based firm, led by Ellen Latham, saw its revenue
  escalate from $3,147,199 in 2013 to $47,537,711 in 2015 and added 56
  employees during that time span.

“This year’s 50 Fastest list represents our most diverse ranking ever,
with an immense geographic reach covering 20 states and one
international winner in Turkey, as well as industries ranging from
energy efficiency services to cybersecurity and engineering,” said
Marsha Firestone, Ph. D., president and founder of the WPO. “We are once
again so very pleased to partner with American Express in paying tribute
to these influential women and recognizing the vital role that
women-owned/led companies have in boosting the economy and enhancing
overall job growth.”

“According to our recent State of Women-Owned Businesses report, the
number of women-owned firms grew at a rate of five times faster than the
national average since the recession,” said Susan Sobbott, president,
Global Commercial Payments, American Express. “We are thrilled to
showcase the successes of these fifty honorees in order to inspire other
women to build high-growth businesses.”

Each of the honored business owners will be offered a congratulatory
prize from American Express.

Applicants do not have to be WPO members. All eligible companies were
ranked according to a sales growth formula that combines percentage and
absolute growth. From this list, the 50 Fastest were selected. To be
qualified for the ranking, businesses are required to be privately held,
woman-owned/led companies and have reached revenue of at least $500,000
by the first week of 2011 and $2 million in 2015.

More about the 2016 50 Fastest:

• Average Age: 49
• CEOs that founded the business: 92%
• Listed companies that do business globally: 44%
• Provide health insurance: 92%
• Plan to continue to grow their company: 90%
• State hiring the best talent as their biggest business challenge: 44%

All 50 companies will be honored at a special event hosted by American
Express at the 2016 WPO Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland on
Friday, April 8, 2016. The dinner and awards ceremony will take place
from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.

Each attendee of the WPO conference will receive a new handbook, 50
Fastest Women-Owned/Led Companies Guide to Growth, sponsored by American
Express. It includes past honorees’ tips to achieve rapid company growth
and focuses on five areas that change significantly when a business
scales: HR, branding, financing, sales, and innovation.

The 2016 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Include:

About the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO)

The WPO is the ultimate affiliation for successful women entrepreneurs
worldwide. In monthly meetings across the world, women from diverse
industries invest time and energy in themselves and their businesses to
drive their corporations to the next level. Local WPO chapters are
coordinated by a professional facilitator and meet monthly to share
business expertise and experience in a confidential setting. For more
information, call 212-688-4114 or visit www.womenpresidentsorg.com.
Follow WPO on Twitter (@womenpresidents) and like us on Facebook.

About American Express Global Commercial
Payments

Through its Global Corporate Payments division, American Express offers
a suite of B2B and T&E payment solutions that help organizations
streamline processes and transform them into opportunities for savings,
control and efficiency. American Express can help your organization
increase working capital flexibility and strengthen relationships with
suppliers. For more information, visit business.americanexpress.com/us/
and linkedin.com/company/american-express-global-corporate-payments.

About American Express

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with
access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build
business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com
and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress,
foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express,
twitter.com/americanexpress,
and youtube.com/americanexpress.

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Contacts

M Booth
Alex Della Rocca, 212-539-3203
alexd@mbooth.com
or
American
Express
Melissa Filipek, 917-514-4693
melissa.j.filipek@aexp.com
or
Women
Presidents’ Organization
Susan Johnson, 917-601-5778
Sjohnson@womenpresidentsorg.com