ZweigWhite issues call for entries for its Hot Firm List

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. — ZweigWhite now is accepting entries for The Zweig Letter 2011 Hot Firm List, the industry’s search for the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, planning, environmental, and multidisciplinary consulting firms in the United States and Canada. These are the firms that have outperformed the economy and their competitors to become leaders in their chosen fields.

The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List, now in its 12th year, has become synonymous with industry success. Last year’s top Hot Firm winners included: Fentress Architects, a 155-person international architecture and interior design firm from Denver; GENIVAR, a 4,400-person engineering and architecture firm from Montreal, QC, Canada; and Trow Global, a 3,400-person engineering and consulting firm from Brampton, ON, Canada.

Agatha Kessler, CEO of Fentress Architects, the top-ranked firm in 2010, describes the focus and mindset that her firm enforced that led to their Hot Firm honor in 2010.

“We were like a bear in the winter,” said Kessler of preparing for the recession. “Now, we’re like a bear in the spring — hungry. Becoming a Hot Firm during an economic Ice Age, in addition to luck, required intense discipline, from front desk to back office. Today, the Hot Firm status is a key indicator of engaged employees, innovative business practices, and a client-focused culture.”

Mark Zweig, founder and CEO of ZweigWhite, also reflects on the benefit for any firm that ranks on the Hot Firm List. “Being named to The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List is a great PR opportunity for any firm that makes it,” Zweig said. “It says, ‘We are good, we are successful,’ to your clients, employees, investors, lenders, suppliers, and the public at large. All good stuff!”

To qualify, firms must demonstrate that the majority of their revenues are derived from the practice of architecture, engineering, planning, design/build, environmental consulting, or allied disciplines. Firms are ranked according to their three-year growth rate in gross revenue from 2007 to 2010, with 50 percent of the ranking based on percentage growth and 50 percent based on dollar growth. Revenue for 2007 must be greater than or equal to $1 million.

Only firms that were in business for the entirety of this three-year period and that were still in business as of Jan. 1, 2011, are eligible. Verification of revenue figures is required. After the initial review, the leading contenders will be contacted for financial statements or income tax returns to validate the results of the ranking.

The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2011. The 2011 winners will be announced and highlighted at the The Zweig Letter 2011 Hot Firm Conference, Oct. 26-27, 2011, at Montage beach resort in Laguna Beach, Calif.

For more information and submission details, visit www.zweigwhite.com/go/hotfirm2011.