ACG Austin/San Antonio Salutes Our 2023 Spotlight & Growth Award Finalists & Winners!
Spotlight Awards
Growth Awards
Over $100 Million | $25 to $100 Million | $10 to $25 Million | $5 to $10 Million
Over $100 Million Category
AmeriVet Veterinary Partners
Winner - Over $100 million category
For veterinarians looking to adapt and grow their practices, AmeriVet Veterinary Partners provides best-in-class resources and operational support – reducing their day-to-day burden, so they can focus on what matters most. A one-size-fits-all approach is not in AmeriVet's DNA; they want their partners to keep what makes them unique and embrace what makes them better. Unlike other consolidators, AmeriVet is the option for vets who want to remain invested in their practices, both emotionally and financially. AmeriVet's goal is to preserve the legacy of hard-working veterinarians who have spent their lives building their practices and caring for their patients. AmeriVet has built an award-winning culture and was honored to be included on the Inc. 5000 list for the first time in 2022. They have a broad network of over 200 veterinary partners across 37 states nationwide.
Boundless Network
Finalist - Over $100 million category
Boundless is the first promotional marketing company to bring together people, products, and an easy tech platform to drive impressions and deliver ROI with visibility and control. Their mission is to help clients connect with their audience and bring their brand to life with creative branded product campaigns. Boundless believes in branding products with purpose™ and finding effective solutions for each unique brand.
Founded in 2005, Boundless’ proprietary tech empowers companies to proactively manage their promotional spend, transform burdened processes, protect the brand, and drive compliance.
Boundless’ growth has been recognized in:
- Inc. 5000’s List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies
- 2023 PPAI Best Places to Work
- Fast 50: Austin’s Fastest Growing Companies
- Top 20 ASI and Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Distributor
In 2022, the Boundless customer base was over 12,000 buyers—with a back-office processing over 31,000 orders and revenue surpassing $140 million.
Integrity HRM
Finalist - Over $100 million category
Integrity HRM is a leading human resources outsourcing firm headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, known for its exceptional HR services since 2017. Specializing in payroll, risk and safety management, benefits, and comprehensive HR solutions, Integrity HRM has garnered a reputation for elevating organizational performance across industries nationwide.
From its inception, Integrity HRM has upheld a steadfast commitment to excellence, guided by the belief in the collective potential of teamwork. The company began with a clear vision and unwavering determination, establishing its presence and welcoming its inaugural employees and clients.
Today, boasting a dedicated team of 50+ professionals, Integrity HRM stands poised to embrace new challenges confidently. Integrity HRM has expanded its services and reach throughout its evolution while remaining true to its foundational mission, vision, and values.
$25 to $100 Million Category
Growth Acceleration Partners
Winner -$25 to $100 Million Category
Growth Acceleration Partners, or “GAP”, consults, designs, builds and delivers revenue-generating software and data solutions for clients. GAP’s advisory services — backed by elite consultants and engineers with extensive domain knowledge and deep technical expertise — guide businesses through digital transformation. Custom-built SaaS and data analytic platforms provide a competitive advantage through technology. What makes GAP different is its people. GAP invests in building expert teams that work cohesively and are continuously growing professionally, keeping customers on the cutting edge to deliver powerful and unique solutions to the market. Through these strategic, long-term partnerships, GAP delivers on its promise to help businesses achieve their goals.
In early 2023, GAP acquired the Application Migration Business Unit of Mobilize.Net, the global market leader in automated software modernization, which offers proprietary and patented technology tools and services aimed at legacy Windows and Java applications. The addition of Mobilize.Net — a 29-year-old company based on amazing technology and built by PhD computer engineers — broadens the GAP portfolio for high-powered tools to jumpstart customers’ digital transformation. The acquisition allows GAP customers to dramatically reduce the time and cost of critical application modernization projects.
JuiceLand
Finalist - $25 - $100 million category
Juiceland is fueled by fun and the belief that fresh foods can be life changing. They create award-winning superfood smoothies, raw, cold-pressed juice, plant-based meals, wellness shots, and lattes.
With 33 locations and more on the horizon, JuiceLand is expanding throughout Texas. Whether they're occupying an iconic building, or serving their full menu from the flagship Whole Foods, they're guaranteed to Make Your Drinks Come True. Thanks to their commissary kitchens, JuiceLand is able to bring fresh food & juice to their shops daily; helping to redefine the world of fast food!
JuiceLand sources ingredients sustainably, using only compostable and recyclable packaging. Their shops also cultivate a fun, inviting experience that is inspiring and welcoming to all.
Novak Commercial Construction
Finalist - $25 - $100 million category
Novak Commercial Construction is a Georgetown, Texas based General Contractor that offers design-build, construction, and construction management services. Their mission is to build and facilitate long-term relationships while adding value to owners, tenants, and communities.
Novak Commercial Construction was built with the philosophy that every job and every client is our most important one. We focus on creating meaningful, strategic partnerships and high-quality projects with integrity, workmanship, and close attention to detail. They pride themselves on aggressive scheduling and competitive pricing. Their passion for excellence, along with their commitment to providing value to their clients, has proven their reputation for “Building on Exceptional” and fueled their growth.
Novak Commercial Construction was named on the 2023 INC 5000 list of The Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Their wide body of work spans retail, high-end and fast-casual restaurants, industrial and automotive facilities, medical, wellness, and multi-family industries
$10 to $25 Million Category
Cox Consulting Network
Winner - $10 - $25 million category
Cox Consulting Network was founded by Andy Cox in 2018. Andy created CCN to serve his peers in finance and accounting with top-level consulting and recruiting services. He began with only $42,000 in starting capital and intentionally chose not to incur debt or bring in outside investors.
He believed that business growth would naturally come when he put people first. He committed to pay consultants above-market rates and, in doing so, attract the best talent in Texas. This people-first mindset is more than just a nice idea, and the proof is in the numbers.
After five years in business, CCN is a two-time ACG Growth award winner, an ABJ Fast 50 award winner, and just recently made the Inc. 5000. The company has grown by 429% over the last three years and now employs over 60 staff members and consultants. It continues to share this success with its consultants, providing competitive benefits and perks like all-expenses-paid trips for consultant milestones.
CCN also gives back to the community, with charitable giving consistently over 2% of net income. Once again, CCN continues to prove that when you put people first, everybody wins.
Blue Sage Capital
Finalist - $10 - $25 million category
Blue Sage Capital is an Austin, Texas-based private equity firm that has been leading growth-orientated investments in lower middle-market companies since 2002.
Blue Sage’s investment philosophy is focused on partnering with founders and executives to build growing, durable businesses, oftentimes spurred by additional investments in capacity, people, or acquisitions, while helping business owners achieve personal goals such as succession planning.
Blue Sage is frequently the first round of institutional capital for businesses that enjoy leadership positions in the niche manufacturing, environmental solutions, or specialty services industries. When Blue Sage completes an initial investment, the firm and management collaboratively create a value creation plan that is bespoke to the unique attributes of each business.
Blue Sage's investment returns have been consistently near the top net returns in the United States when compared with the returns of similar funds.
Schneider Engineering
Finalist - $10 - $25 million category
Schneider Engineering, LLC has provided medium to high voltage energy-focused engineering and business consulting services to utility systems since 1991 – over three decades!
They are proud their first Clients remain Clients today, and that the vast majority continue to receive and expand the type and amount of services year after year. They provide engineering and consulting services to more than 135 Clients across the state and region with systems ranging from 250,000 electric meters to Municipal systems with less than 3,000 electric and water meters. Their Client-base and service markets have grown substantially due to the technological advances in their industry, adding 57 new Clients to their portfolio in 2022, and 27 so far this year!
With this growth, they have also expanded their team by 30% over the past year -- and are still hiring! They are adding and repositioning staff, looking for key people in strategic expansion areas to maintain the amazing customer service their Clients are used to receiving.
$5 to $10 Million Category
Big Sun Solar
Winner - $5 to $10 million category
Big Sun Solar provides Texas businesses custom designed rooftop, carport, and ground-mount solar PV systems to help counter rising energy costs and meet corporate sustainability goals. With a Net Promoter Score of 88, Big Sun Solar is an industry leader trusted by prominent brands including Cavender Auto Group, Rush Enterprises and Baywood Hotels and has helped San Antonio become 5th in the nation for most solar megawatt installed.Additionally, its partnership with CPS Energy and Guadalupe Electric Coop has built close to 10 megawatts of utility integrated solar power for central Texas residents and businesses. With a passion to build a more renewable future for the next generation of Texans, Big Sun Solar is headquartered in San Antonio and serves businesses across the state.
Alafair Biosciences
Finalist - $5 to $10 million category
Alafair Biosciences is an Austin-based privately-held medical device company commercializing a clinically-driven platform technology using its patented hydrogel technology to address postoperative soft tissue recovery. Founded in 2011 by John Joyoprayitno, Sarah Mayes PhD, and Dan Peterson, MD, Alafair is a true bench-to-bedside story based on technology invented at and licensed from the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Austin. Alafair’s first product, VersaWrap®, was granted FDA clearance in 2016 and launched commercially in 2018.
For over 10 years, Alafair has produced HA-rich class II medical devices to protect tendons, ligaments, skeletal muscles, and peripheral nerves (including on nerve root in spine procedures). Alafair’s technology platform is used primarily by hand surgeons, foot & ankle surgeons, and spine surgeons in a wide variety of procedures. Today, Alafair has sold over 10,000 units of its flagship product, VersaWrap®.
Recently, Alafair was featured on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, ranking at No. 23 among Health Products. Alafair and its executives continue to be recognized for growth and exceptional leadership by national and local organizations like ACG.
“This is such an exhilarating and transformative time for Alafair. We've achieved exceptional growth in the pursuit of improving patient care," said John Joyoprayitno, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Alafair Biosciences. "From innovative R&D to new partnerships, there is much to celebrate and even more to look forward to.”
Rapid Response Staffing Solutions
Finalist - $5 to $10 million category
Rapid Response Staffing Solutions is a highly competent and competitive labor logistics provider with a vast history in government contracts, emergency responses, and special events. They specialize in providing contract-term labor support for projects and operations requiring an immediate response or dealing with challenging staffing conditions.
Whatever your labor needs may be, RRS operates nationwide – from the southern border to the northern bounds of the country. Their team utilizes industry-leading technology and precision engagement practices to attract and retain the best talent in today's workforce, of which they take great pride. These unwavering and targeted recruitment practices equip them with the ability to provide suitable candidates for any organization. RRS promises to work relentlessly to ensure that their clients have a skilled team on hand, making RRS a labor logistics company you can count on.
Winner - Spotlight Award for Innovation
Smarter Reality
Smarter Reality is a veteran-owned, award-winning software developer based in Round Rock, Texas that builds simulation, training, and custom software. In 2023, the company qualified for the Inc. 5000 as one of the “Fastest Growing” companies in America, was selected by the Round Rock Chamber for the inaugural award of its “Defense Innovation Fund,” had projects selected as “cool tool” finalists by EdTech Digest and was named an “Internship Champion” by Austin Community College.
Since 2020, the company has received eight DOD Small Business Innovation Program awards bringing millions of dollars of Defense investment into central Texas including: 1) Tabletop Exercise Platform – scenario driven trainer with no-code scenario development, 2) Conflict Resolution Simulator – practice difficult conversations in VR with an AI-enabled companion, 3) Training Fusion Simulator – 3D training environment for deployment preparation, and 4) USAF-X – a mobile game for educating and engaging GenZ.
The company supports commercial clients with custom software including mobile and web applications, e-commerce, entertainment, and artificial intelligence supporting clients in healthcare, law enforcement, education and more.
Winner - Spotlight Award for Community Impact & Assistance
The SAFE Alliance
The SAFE Alliance is an Austin-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking because they believe survivors deserve safety, healing, and hope. SAFE also provides violence prevention education so more people can enjoy healthy relationships without the trauma of abuse. In the past two years, SAFE’s community outreach and education programming has provided 400+ trainings to over 7,000 community members. SAFE’s various housing and shelter programs have provided 46,000+ nights/days of care and served over 6,000 youth and adults directly affected by abuse. SAFE facilitated 40,000+ callers/chats/texts with walk-in advocacy and crisis intervention or face-to-face emotional support through the 24/7 confidential SAFEline. These feats of service are incredible and only possible thanks to the generosity of community partners and the dedication of SAFE staff to support the mission to stop abuse for everyone.
