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-- Christopher Caggiano

Don Laskowski and Dan Tekulve

Wood-Mizer Products

Indianapolis

Founded: 1978

Business description: Manufactures wood-processing machinery

Employees: 390

Projected 1993 revenues: $43 million

Neither Don Laskowski nor Dan Tekulve had any experience in the sawmill industry (Laskowski, a farmer from North Dakota, was an engineer; Tekulve designed motorized hospital beds), but when they combined their creative talents, they invented a dynamic product in an old market. The Wood-Mizer, a portable band saw that can extract 30% more usable lumber from trees than traditional saws can, significantly minimizes waste and environmental pollution. The product has helped bring Wood-Mizer Products' worldwide sales to more than $40 million.

The company has helped seed its global market by donating roughly 10% of its annual profits to third-world countries. When the program was first implemented, Wood-Mizer also "gave 300 sawmills to third-world countries," says Laskowksi. "The gift of those sawmills created a by-product for us -- the base for the sale of our products in 80 countries where our equipment was very badly needed.' What's more, the company built a lumber-processing plant in Poland, employing more than 80 Polish citizens and providing home builders with wood-processing and construction training. -- Vera B. Gibbons

Jeffrey P. Sudikoff

IDB Communications Group

Culver City, Calif.

Founded: 1983

Business description: Operates a domestic and international communications network

Employees: 825

Projected 1993 revenues: $300 million

"The way you become successful is by accident," says IDB's 37-year-old founder, Jeffrey Sudikoff, "and the way you do that is to make sure you're in the way of the oncoming bus. Make sure you get hit by the bus." That pretty much describes IDB's big break. In 1981, after a stint as a radio journalist and a job as a concert-tour production manager, Sudikoff, understanding the need to bring new technology to radio, started doing consulting work for radio networks. Two years later Sudikoff's bus came. He was approached by a concert promoter who was looking to broadcast a show on radio nationally. Completely green, Sudikoff rushed out and secured a $15,000 "car loan," bought a mobile satellite transmitter, and drove the satellite trailer to the concert.

Instantly, the telecommunications company was born, and within months IDB had dozens of clients. By 1984 it was pretty clear that Sudikoff was in the right place at the right time. The breakup of AT&T created all sorts of opportunities for start-ups like IDB. For instance, the giant's dissolution was closely followed by a slew of media events, most notably the Democratic and Republican conventions and the Olympics in Los Angeles. IDB jumped in, expanding its services to provide satellite transmission for all three events.

Sudikoff is constantly exploring new markets. Currently, IDB's international communications network provides radio- and television-transmission services, private-line and long-distance telephone services, facsimile and data connections, and mobile-satellite communications. Sudikoff is determined to keep the company's entrepreneurial edge alive, because it has allowed IDB to respond to niche markets faster than its behemoth competitors could. He claims that the telecommunications industry is so dynamic that new opportunities present themselves every six hours, and short of betting the farm, the company continues to take calculated risks. Whether it's a case of being in the right place at the right time or taking managed risks, his approach is paying off. Analysts predict that IDB's revenues will top $300 million in 1993.

-- Stephanie Gruner

Phil Johnson

Millstone Coffee Inc.

Everett, Wash.

Founded: 1981

Business description: Manufactures and distributes premium coffees

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