Vision. Wisdom. Tenacity.
Those three words are the theme of the third annual Aggie 100. After three years of talking to accomplished Aggie entrepreneurs, getting to know them and asking why they have been successful, these three themes emerged. This year’s number one company has grown by over 350% each of the last two years. Other companies on the list are decades old. Several entrepreneurs are clearly “serial entrepreneurs” with multiple companies on the list. Still other leaders have tackled the job of setting up shop in a foreign country and are doing quite well. All of these leaders have a clear vision; have displayed the wisdom necessary to turn the dream into reality and the tenacity to stick with it through the ups and downs. It gives us great pride to recognize and celebrate their success.
If it happens twice at A&M they say it becomes tradition. Today, we celebrated the third annual Aggie 100 and the program is well on its way to becoming an enduring Aggie tradition. This year’s program honored the achievements of fast growing Aggie-owned or –led companies from around the world. Hundreds of companies were nominated for the third annual Aggie 100 and over 200 applied for the honor. The 100 fastest growing companies were named to the 2007 Aggie 100 and recognized at ceremonies on campus. In addition to the on-campus celebrations, many company representatives took time out of their schedules to speak to student organizations and classes. They shared their unique stories and passed lessons learned on to the next generation of leaders. In all, these successful entrepreneurs touched the lives of over 1200 students by sharing their stories while visiting campus.
For the third year in a row, the program attracted over 90 companies back to campus. Many company representatives were on campus for the first time in years. Over 250 people joined in a reception on the evening of October 25 to welcome everyone back to campus. Hosted by the Association of Former Students, the reception was a chance for the Aggie 100 representatives to meet one another. Friday, October 26, began with breakfast meetings held across campus as deans and other leaders offered personal congratulations to their college’s alumni. The festivities were capped off by the awards luncheon on Friday. Once again, the event was held in the Zone Club at Kyle Field and attended by over 620 people, including more than 100 current students.
The staff of the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship is honored to have the privilege of recognizing successful Aggie entrepreneurs and providing them a platform to help educate today’s students. The program is paying dividends and weaving its way into the Aggie fabric. Like the success of the Aggie 100 honorees, the program’s success is a team effort. The Center would like to thank the many people and organizations that have helped make it a reality. Two long-term supporters, PKF Texas and Hollinden Professional Services Marketing stepped forward and provided countless hours of work to make the event a reality. PKF is the “Aggie 100 accountant” and reviewed and verified the information provided by the applicants. All of the graphics, marketing programs and presentations connected with the event were contributed by Hollinden. The Association of Former Students, Infinity Pro Sports, The Research Valley Partnership, the Texas A&M Foundation and the Texas Business Journals have also provided immeasurable support for this program for multiple years. Many other companies and individuals purchased tables for the awards luncheon and helped underwrite the cost of student attendance at the awards luncheon. Student organizations, such as the Texas A&M Singing Cadets and MSC Hospitality, helped entertain guests and make sure everyone was warmly welcomed to Aggieland. The support of all of these organizations is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated. The Aggie 100 would not be a reality without this type of support.
Finally, the Center must recognize its core team of volunteers. The Center is a self-supporting unit of Mays Business School and could not accomplish its mission without the unending support of the individuals and companies serving on its Executive Committee and Advisory Council. The members of this group are recognized later in this publication. The ideas, time and financial support provided by these volunteers truly enables the Center to continue making a difference for Texas A&M University.
The stories and pictures included in this paper don’t begin to tell the story of Aggie entrepreneurs and their accomplishments. There are many stories to celebrate. The Aggie 100 highlights 100 of the fastest growing stories. Congratulations to the 2007 honorees. You are making a difference. Your stories are inspiring and we are proud to call you Aggies!
Back to Archive > |
Top 10
All 100
By Class
Wisdom |
Programs