State companies make Inc. 500 list
August 23, 2006

Designations for nation’s fastest growing private companies

By Jerry Shottenkirk
The Journal Record

OKLAHOMA CITY – Seven Oklahoma companies are mentioned in the latest Inc. 500 annual list of the nation’s top fastest growing privately owned businesses.

The feature in Inc. magazine measures companies’ growth over the past three years.
Companies must have been founded and started to generate revenue by the first week of 2002.  They also must be based in the U.S., privately held and independent of all other companies. The minimum base revenue required to get on the list is $600,000.

Totally Tickets of Norman, which appeared at No. 132, was the highest-listed Oklahoma company.  Totally Tickets, founded in 1999, experienced 758.7 percent growth over the three-year period. It has $5.6 million in revenue and nine employees.

Mike Fletcher, founder and president of Totally Tickets, called the recognition a tribute to his employees. "We're obviously very honored and pleased, and my partner and I (Shawn Norman) attribute our success to having good people," Fletcher said. "We found our niche." Fletcher's company merged with Norman's Ticket Extreme of Tulsa in 2002. Totally Tickets buys and sells tickets to events nationwide, Fletcher said.

Paycom of Oklahoma City made the list at No. 156 with 685 percent growth, $8 million in revenue and 50 employees.

GDH Consulting of Tulsa was listed at No. 160. It had 679.9 percent growth during the period, $11.9 million in revenue, 38 employees and was founded in 2001.

Gateway Mortgage of Tulsa was No. 325. Founded in 2000, it has 295 employees, had 414.9 percent growth and $13.8 million in revenue.

The Busey Group of Oklahoma City was listed at No. 294. Founded in 2000, it has 125 employees, experienced 454.6 percent growth and reached $9 million in revenue.

Long Wave of Oklahoma City experienced 386.6 percent growth and made the list at No. 363. It was founded in 1995, has 78 employees and had revenue of $10.3 million.

ArticShield of Broken Arrow rounded out the Oklahoma companies at No. 385. It had 372 percent growth, $5 million in revenue and has 14 employees.

Making the list is a measure of accomplishment, said Phil G. Busey, chairman and chief executive officer of The Busey Group, which is a business development and government contracting firm that focuses on small and minority businesses.

"We are honored to be named to the Inc. 500; our employees have worked very hard, and our efforts are being rewarded," Busey said. "We are constantly looking for new ways of being innovative in offering solutions to our customers and it is paying off. Our success is brought on by our clients' success."