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The state has honored five Indiana businesses with Companies to Watch Spotlight Awards. Recipients include a North Vernon-based renewable energy technology company, a digital marketing firm in Bloomington and a Brownsburg-based underground utility location company. August 21, 2014

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Five Indiana companies were recognized as Companies to Watch Spotlight Award recipients at the seventh annual Companies to Watch ceremony in Indianapolis yesterday.

The accolade, presented by the Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE), its Indiana Small Business Development Center, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), and endorsed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, recognizes past Companies to Watch honorees that have demonstrated continued growth, success and commitment to Indiana since receiving their Companies to Watch award.

Companies honored were Brownsburg-based Blood Hound, Inc., an underground utility locating company, Indianapolis-based Courseload, an e-textbook and digital course materials company, Bloomington-based Hanapin Marketing, a digital marketing company, Carmel-based Orbis Education, a healthcare education company, and North Vernon-based WindStream Technologies, a renewable energy technology company.

Blood Hound, Inc., a 2009 Companies to Watch award recipient, will experience a 40 percent increase in revenue this year. Since being named a winner, the company has also seen a significant increase in staff, recently hiring a Chief Operating Officer and sales staff throughout Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

Courseload has continued to see tremendous growth since being named a Company to Watch in 2012. With an anticipated revenue increase of 300 percent in 2014, the company is leading the market place in learning engagement technology. The company also added 14 new staff this year, including a new vice president of sales.

Hanapin Marketing has grown to more than 50 employees since winning the award in 2012. As a result, the marketing firm has doubled the size of their office space, adding more than 1,000 square feet to accommodate the growth. The Bloomington-based company's Pay-Per-Click conference, Hero Conf, has grown to be the most popular pay-per-click conference in the world.

Orbis Education was named a Company to Watch in 2009. Since that time, the company has continued to create a measurable impact in the Indiana economy, boosting a 94 percent revenue increase in 2013. As a result, the company added 30 new employees in 2014 and has added and expanded partnerships in six states.

WindStream Technologies is continuing to build on the success that made them a Company to Watch in 2012. The North Vernon company is continuing to see rapid growth worldwide in countries like Jamaica, India, and throughout Africa. Last month the company installed the world's largest wind-solar project in Jamaica. With so much success, WindStream Technologies has added 9 new employees this year alone.

The fifth annual Spotlight Award winners were honored along with this year's 27 Companies to Watch recipients during a ceremony at The Indiana Roof Ballroom yesterday. Companies recognized as Companies to Watch are privately held businesses incorporated in Indiana, employ six to 150 full-time employees and have between $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or capital. More information about the award can be found at http://indiana.companiestowatch.org.

About OSBE

Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, the Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE) oversees the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC), the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and the Indiana Small Business Ombudsman. The OSBE staff helps grow the Indiana economy by assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses through programs and personal consultation. For more information on OSBE and to see how Indiana is “the state that works” for entrepreneurs visit www.osbe.in.gov.

About the ISBDC

As part of OSBE, the ten Indiana Small Business Development Centers (ISBDC) support the formation, growth, and sustainability of Indiana's small businesses by providing entrepreneurs expert guidance and access to a network of resources. Funding for the regional ISBDCs comes from state universities, chambers of commerce, economic development offices, mayor offices, and banks. Statewide financial support is provided by U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Indiana and Ivy Tech Community College. Administratively, the ISBDC Lead Center is operated by the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE), an agency of the Office of Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann. To learn more about the ISBDC and to become a client visit: http://isbdc.org.

About Indiana Companies to Watch

Indiana Companies to Watch is an awards program celebrating second-stage entrepreneurs presented by the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, its Small Business Development Center, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and endorsed by the Edward Lowe Foundation. Sponsors include the Barnes & Thornburg, Katz Sapper & Miller, Key Bank and Ivy Tech Corporate College.

Source: The Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship

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