Republic Landscapes named fastest-growing area business
Boasting a three-year sales growth of 476 percent, Republic Landscapes of College Station was named the fastest-growing business in Brazos County by the Bryan Rotary Club and Newman 10 Business Performance Awards.
Republic Landscapes owner Brandon Spears received the award Wednesday during a luncheon at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center.
"I didn't even realize we had that kind of growth," Spears said.
Republic Landscapes' sales growth was more than double that of second-place business Brazos Technology, which posted a three-year sales increase of 172 percent.
Spears worked in sales at a computer company after graduating from A&M with a degree in agricultural economics. He bought his friend's lawn mowing business and decided to pursue landscape contracting instead of returning to school to receive his MBA.
"I knew business was good," Spears said. "But you kind of have to prove yourself."
It took Spears 18 months of proving himself before he was able to acquire his first large contract. He eventually traded landscape maintenance for full-time contracting and opened Republic Landscapes in 2004.
Spears now bids on landscaping and hardscaping projects for hospitals, schools and businesses in Houston, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, San Antonio and Austin.
"Whatever's outside that isn't concrete, that's what we try to do," he said.
Republic Landscapes' biggest project to date was the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Spears credits his success to the quality and timeliness of the work his company produces.
Spears wasn't expecting his company to be named the fastest-growing business during the awards presentation, he said. He kept thinking his business would be the next one named until it was finally announced as the winner.
"It feels good, but you don't want to stop there," he said. "You want to keep going."
Seth Stewart, Republic Landscapes' project superintendent, also said that the high quality of the company's finished product helped it achieve award-winning status.
"It's a little validation for a lot of hard work," he said.
The other nine award-winning businesses were:
* Brazos Technology: Founded in 2000 by Michael McAleer, the 24-employee company posted a three-year sales growth of 172 percent. More than 190 police departments now use Brazos Technology software in their day-to-day operations.
* JB Knowledge Technologies: An information technology solutions provider that was founded in 2001, JB Knowledge has 45 employees and had a sales growth of 137 percent since 2008.
* Ellis Custom Homes: Keith Ellis founded Ellis Custom Homes in 1990 after earning a degree in building construction from A&M in 1988. The nine-employee company increased its sales 122 percent in the last three years.
* Fries Financial Services: With six employees and a three-year sales growth of 118 percent, Fries Financial Services has provided the Bryan-College Station area with service since 1984. Denise Fries started the company after interviewing with a number of brokerage firms that didn't meet her needs.
* Fifth 'C' Fine Jewelry: Founded in 1997 by Chuck and Lori Konderla, Fifth 'C' posted a sales percent growth of 84 percent in the last three years. The Konderlas are the only two employees.
* La Voz Hispana: With nine employees and a three-year sales growth of 56 percent, La Voz Hispana puts out 22,000 copies in 15 cities. Jose Diaz founded the Spanish-langauge newspaper in 1995.
* Zajonc Corporation: Kyle Barrington founded software company Zajonc in 2000 after being certified as a juvenile probation officer and serving as a director of a drug and alcohol abuse inpatient treatment program. Zajonc has 14 employees and increased sales 56 percent in the last three years.
* By Design Interiors: Founded in 1995 by Susan Tremont and Evelyn White, By Design Interiors' sales have grown 54 percent since 2008. It has four employees.
* Ed Slovacek CPA, PLLC: Ed Slovacek founded his tax and accounting consultant firm in 1974. His five-employee company posted a 2008-10 sales growth of 49 percent.
