Fastest-growing local businesses honored at Bryan Rotary 10 awards

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Local business leaders across Bryan and College Station gathered Wednesday to recognize the accomplishments of some of the area’s fastest-growing businesses.

The 31st annual Bryan Rotary Club Business Performance Awards recognize the fastest-growing local companies in Brazos County across several industries.

As these businesses are recognized, the past several months have seen reports of multiple businesses closing their doors, with some citing rising costs as the reason.

But as some struggle, others have found success.

Growth rates for these companies range from over 60% up to nearly 1,100% while providing jobs and stimulating the local economy.

One of those honorees was I:55 Book Fairs, who saw growth measuring over 600%. CEO Glenn Hawley said the current economic climate has led to a dramatic increase in costs, but he’s confident his company can tackle the challenges.

“Growth is awesome, but there are growing pains as well. And so hopefully we can be there for a while and we can really get our stride and be a little bit more intentional with our growth,” he said.

Intentional growth, Hawley said, is what helps keep their doors open. As the second-fastest growing business, they’ve had to ‘slow back’ their growth in order to find a larger space.

As the bookseller grows, creative problem-solving is helping keep costs down.

“We’re meeting with our publishers about having books published in paperback that don’t come in paperback so we can get a lower price point,” Hawley said.

The fastest growing business didn’t start in Aggieland. FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals works within the animal health industry, specifically working with swine and bovine.

Accounting manager Karla Gratehouse said their work helps to ‘enrich and enhance opportunities for feedlots and farmers and ranchers.’

The company moved its operations from upstate New York to Aggieland, cutting costs and improving logistics.

“To be able to offer jobs and opportunities to work on the education arena for research, and to give the students that are at A&M opportunities to come alongside us,” Gratehouse said.

FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals chose to relocate because of Texas A&M University’s heavy involvement in agriculture.

Top 10 Business Performance Awards

10. TDI Brooks International

9. D4 Land Services

8. Crystal Clear Cleaning

7. Polite Coffee Roasters

6. Customer Impact, LLC

5. TRYGVE Enterprises, LLC

4. Fidelis Creative Agency

3. A Brush Above Services, LLC

2. i55 Book Fairs

1. FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals

To be considered for this award, businesses must be independent, privately held corporations, proprietorships or partnerships, headquartered in Brazos County, and in business for at least 5 years with sales of more than $50,000 but less than $25 million.

This year’s Launch Award was presented to Blue Forge Alliance and this year’s Lifetime Business Achievement Award was presented to Chris Dailey of Dailey Company.

News 3′s Rusty Surette served as emcee for this year’s event.