Brief Profiles of Inc. 500 Companies

A collection of facts and short articles about companies from the 1999 Inc. 500.

#12
The Son Also Rises

For James Cheng, CEO of Computer Hardware Maintenance, fast growth is a family tradition. In 1980 Cheng's father, Richard, started a company called Eastern Computers Inc., which made the Inc. 500 in 1992. One of its first employees was James Cheng, whose specialty became writing Chinese-language software for government agencies. The business grew rapidly--so rapidly, in fact, that eventually it no longer qualified for small-business set-asides. Watching his father's success, James recalls, "I said to myself, 'I know how to do this.' " So he began looking around for a small computer company to buy, eventually finding one for a couple hundred thousand dollars. So which Cheng has the bragging rights, list-wise? Advantage: James. His current #12 ranking tops his father's #105 showing in 1992. --Mike Hofman

#21
They Know the Drill

A lot of oil and gas companies tanked in 1998, when slumping oil prices prompted megamergers and massive industry cutbacks. But that year Houston-based ATP Oil & Gas Corp. pumped plenty of revenues into its coffers. ATP's nearly 150% growth rate in 1998 stems from its well-fortified niche, says CEO Paul Bulmahn. Instead of scouting for its own petroleum reservoirs to exploit, ATP taps into projects that major oil companies have abandoned as unprofitable. Unprofitable for the big guys, maybe. But they've been plenty profitable for the relatively pint-size ATP, which can make money on much smaller projects. But what happens when oil prices start climbing and crews of roughnecks begin to repopulate the Gulf of Mexico? "Well, God made many more small reservoirs than large ones," says Bulmahn, "and there will be even more opportunities for us when everyone is drilling again." --Anne Marie Borrego

#64
If the Shoe Fits...

One of the most coveted awards at BSI Consulting is a rather silly-looking plaque comprising a pair of men's size-10 shoes nailed to a piece of wood and spray-painted gold. CEO Kent Bradshaw inaugurated the aptly named Golden Shoe Award in 1997 to honor the employee who has the most creative customer encounter each quarter. Its origins lie in the tale of one consultant who was traveling to an important client meeting scheduled for 8 the next morning. Upon arriving at his hotel shortly after midnight, the consultant realized he had forgotten to pack his dress shoes. In a panic, he went downstairs to the hotel bar and bought a pair from a fellow patron for $60. The meeting went well, although the customer did mention the consultant's shoes, saying they were "a bit worn out." Bradshaw memorialized that burst of ingenuity with the aforementioned plaque, which, when awarded, is accompanied by a $50 cash bonus. --Heather DeJesus

#103
Mare's Sweat Equity

Getting a business up and running can be rough on the wallet. When Chuck Schvaneveldt started Upper Valley Utilities, in 1994, he was lucky to have a hobby to help fund his start-up. "We didn't have any income for six months, but we had a lot of horses, so we sold them to make our house payments," the Utah native explains. These days Schvaneveldt has a new pastime: flying helicopters. Although they probably won't come in handy the way his horses did, Schvaneveldt thinks helicopters have a leg up on equines: "You don't have to feed them." --Jennifer McFarland

#118
Glory Days

When Rodney P. Hunt of RS Information Systems was drafted to play pro baseball while in high school, his mother gave him an ultimatum: play ball or continue to be her son. So Hunt politely refused the pros' $50,000 signing bonus. But after graduating from Cornell, Hunt heard baseball's call once more. He spent three years in the minors before a torn rotator cuff cut his playing career short. Today Hunt manages his own team, now 320 strong. He says he still draws inspiration from his time on the diamond. "The best managers are often not the best players," he says. --Christopher Riegle

#159
CEO Songbird

Account Resource president Larry Zwirn tries to remember that in management, often it's the little things that count most. "People talk about 'team values' or a 'family atmosphere,' " says Zwirn, "but many of them don't even know their employees' names." Zwirn not only remembers the names of each of his 30 employees but also sings "Happy Birthday" to each one of them on the big day. "Employees have said that my singing can be pretty painful," muses Zwirn, "but they also appreciate the fact that I treat them as individuals." Some may feel too special. When asked what she thought of her boss's singing ways, employee Kathy McCrae was shocked to learn that Zwirn serenaded others besides her. "I thought I was the only one!" she exclaimed. --Chris Connell

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