City Lights Electrical

Location: Boston
2002 revenue: $24.8 million
Growth (1998-2002): 188%
CAGR: 30%
FT/PT employees (2002): 250/0

The infamous Big Dig (it replaced the city's main highway with a tunnel) gave Maryanne Cataldo her big break in the electrical systems business. Project planners were committed to hiring a certain number of women-owned contractors. "But," says Cataldo, "you'll never get a second job unless you perform at a superior level." She did: Today, 70% of her business comes from returning clients; 25% by referral.