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Mike McAleer had been working as director of software development for a computer services company in Dallas when he and everyone else were told to pack up one Friday afternoon in 2000.
"You don't expect a $5 billion company to go away overnight," the College Station resident said of the bankruptcy of Inacom.
Instead of filling out job applications as many were after the technology bubble burst, the 1992 Texas A&M graduate decided to begin his own business. He was the only employee.
On Friday, McAleer's Brazos Technology -- which offers software applications to law enforcement agencies and first responders -- was honored at the fifth annual Aggie 100 luncheon. The event recognizes the fastest-growing businesses owned, operated or founded by former Texas A&M students.
"In these times, you've got to run a little bit harder and work a little bit harder than the next guy," the 39-year-old said. His business now has 15 employees.
Eleven of the Aggie 100 businesses are based in Bryan and College Station, the same as last year. This year, however, two broke into the top 10. Brazos Technology was ranked No. 5. It was No. 12 last year.
And the three-employee J.P. Miles Construction Corp., owned by 1981 Texas A&M graduate Bo Miles, was sixth on the list. It wasn't nominated last year.
"It's hard work," Miles said, explaining the success of his company, which was formed in 2003. "And we're real fortunate to be in Bryan-College Station. The economy is still fairly strong here in comparison to some other parts of the country."
Miles also attributes the honor to faith. Jesus has a higher spot on his company's organizational chart than Miles, he said.
"I tried to run it myself, but it's a whole lot easier when I have the faith to help me do it," the 51-year-old said.
The Aggie 100 businesses are nominated or self-nominated and are ranked on a two-year cumulative average growth rate. They must have been in business for at least five years and have $100,000 of annual revenue.
Richard Lester, executive director of the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneur-ship, encouraged the estimated 100 students in attendance to hand out business cards and network with the business owners.
"This is somewhat of a recycling of the life cycle of entrepreneurship," he said to the 600 or so people gathered at the Zone Club on the third deck of Kyle Field. "Every one of the students who are here, please take advantage of this opportunity."
The center is within Texas A&M's Mays Business School and organized the event.
Many of the business leaders flew into town the night before, and officials encouraged them to fan out across the campus and speak to classrooms and student groups. "We estimate we've touched a couple thousand students with this," Lester said.
Lester, who also teaches within the business school's management department, said the troubled economy doesn't necessarily make it a bad time to launch a business, citing a landscape of good employees who don't have jobs and customers willing to switch brand loyalties.
"There are opportunities that weren't there before," Lester said. "If you have a good product, this is a pretty good time for entrepreneurship."
The No. 1 company, Harker Heights-based Anderson Schoel, which designs and installs office interiors, had a growth rate of 287 percent. The last company on the list, Bangkok, Thailand-based Project Solutions Inter-national, an information technology company, grew 19 percent, said Gregory S. Price, director of PKF Accounting Group.
"That is outstanding work in this economy," he said.
Next year's Aggie 100 may be a better indicator of economic impact, because the rankings are based on information through 2008 and don't reflect the continued downturn into 2009.
