Turning Technologies rated fastest-growing

The company’s three-year growth rate is just under
4,000 percent.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Turning Technologies, a leading provider of audience response technology, has been named by Inc. Magazine as the fastest-growing privately held software company in the nation, and the 18th-fastest-growing privately held company overall.

The recognition came Thursday when Inc. Magazine released its 26th annual Inc. 500 list of America’s 500 fastest-growing private companies.

Companies are ranked according to the percentage growth of their revenue from 2003 through 2006. To qualify, companies had to be U.S.-based and privately held, independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of Dec. 31, 2006, and have had at least $200,000 in revenue in 2003, and $2 million in 2006, according to Inc.

“This is great news and another sign that our community has turned a corner,” said U.S. Rep. Timothy Ryan when asked for his response.

“If you want to find out which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson.

With revenues of $20.6 million and a three-year growth rate of 3,909.9 percent, Turning Technologies was 18th overall on the Inc. 500, Inc.’s annual list of the fastest-growing privately held companies. The magazine said the list this year was expanded to include the top 5,000 firms in the nation.

Turning Technologies’ recognition by Inc. Magazine came just a month after a similar rating by Entrepreneur magazine, which ranked the firm as the seventh-fastest-growing small business in America.

CEO amazed

Mike Broderick, Turning Technologies chief executive officer, said he knew the company had been on an amazing ride, but to be the seventh-fastest-growing business of any kind in the nation out of 95,000 qualifying businesses, “well that is just amazing.”

He said he is grateful to the magazines for the recognition, but “mostly I am grateful to the staff of Turning Technologies and to all of our channel partners and customers for placing their confidence in our products and people. They made this happen,” he said of the Inc. ranking.

“To be less than six years old based in Youngstown and be recognized nationally as the fastest-growing privately held software technology company is nothing short of incredible”, he said.

Technology

Turning Technologies’ flagship product, TurningPoint software, in conjunction with ResponseCard keypads, creates a wireless audience response and voting system that enables trainers, presenters and educators to engage their audience as well as develop and administer real-time assessments of participants from within Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.

Turning Technologies’ customers include many Fortune 500 businesses, consulting and training firms, major universities, private and community colleges, and K-12 classrooms. Fueled by new product developments and continued growth in all markets, Turning Technologies expects to sustain its rapid growth for 2007 as well as for many years to come, Broderick said.

“This recognition is great for Turning, our employees and for Youngstown. But one of our favorite sayings around here continues to be, ‘We’re just getting started. Keep watching!’” Broderick said.

alcorn@vindy.com