BG’s Hitcents ranked among fastest-growing companies in nation

AMEERAH CETAWAYO, The Daily News

Published: August 25, 2007

Bowling Green-based Hitcents is ranked No. 191 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the top 500 fastest- growing private companies in the U.S., which will hit newsstands next week.

The company, located at 2425 Nashville Road, ranked 17th in the list’s software category, and 25-year-old founders (and twin brothers) Chris and Clinton Mills ranked fifth on the magazine’s list of the top CEOs under 30.

“We are extremely pleased to garner this recognition in the wake of our tremendous growth over the last few years,” CEO Clinton Mills said. “Our intent is to keep expanding our service offerings and growing our company. Our success can also be attributed to our dedicated work force, as they are essential in sustaining such a fast pace of growth.”

Last year, Hitcents made $3.1 million building Web sites, self-checkout software systems for retail stores, and other technology applications – three-year sales growth came in at 1,099.8 percent, according to the company.

The Inc. 500 list measures revenue growth from 2003 through 2006. To qualify, companies had to be U.S.-based and privately held (as of last December) and have had at least $200,000 in revenue in 2003 and $2 million in 2006.

Hitcents employs more than 50 people in various technical fields, and with a small staff, the key to the company’s growth has been its adaptability. Originally focused on building Web sites, the company now boasts five divisions – Web development, information technology, Utopia Self-Scan Solution (a retail sales tool), Omniprise Enterprise Resource Planning and EyeOn Home/Commercial Automation.

“The biggest problem with large corporations is adapting ... We’re nimble. That’s what has given us a bigger edge,” President Chris Mills said. “It’s more than just developing a product. It’s about having a vision.”

The duo’s father, Hitcents CFO Ed Mills, attributes much of the success to Hitcents’ talented employees, who are working on bringing their customers’ dreams to reality. Matt Robison, self-service manager for Hitcents, said the company’s informal working environment is also a big part of the success.

“A lot of companies keep up the facade of formality,” Robison said, noting that Hitcents is different in that those in charge are just as approachable as anyone else.

Shane Edwards, enterprise resource planning manager of the company’s software division, echoed Robison’s comments.

“We have a lot of meetings here. Everybody is constantly talking about something,” Edwards said.

The Mills brothers started Hitcents as high school sophomores, focusing on Internet advertising. Today, Hitcents is at the cutting edge of creating solutions for Web design, software development and tech support.

Chris Mills said the company’s growth has been fueled by a variety of unique service options – the result of creating custom solutions for each client’s needs.

“We are motivated by the dynamic nature of the technology industry and enjoy the challenge of continuously evolving our services,” Mills said.

Jim Hizer, president and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, said the designation is a well-deserved honor.

“They’re a southcentral Kentucky success story. What a wonderful thing for Hitcents and for (Houchens Industries, which owns Hitcents), and for southcentral Kentucky at large,” he said. “Over the next 20 to 30 years, our long-range aspect of economic success will be dependent on our ability to grow more companies here just like Hitcents. They have hopefully set the tone for many others that will choose to grow and prosper in the region.

“Having had the opportunity to work directly with Hitcents and with their technology products over the last year, I can say firsthand they are incredible with respect to their technological expertise, their drive to succeed and their commitment to innovation. We’re so blessed that they have grown their business in Bowling Green, their headquarters is here, and that they did not pledge for a large metro on the east or west coast.”

Meanwhile, an expanded list by Inc. Magazine – the Inc. 5,000 – boasts a total of 40 Kentucky companies. Only Hitcents and Louisville-based CandyRific made the traditional 500 list.

CandyRific, which ranked No. 322, designs and manufactures novelty items that are part toy and part candy. The company was started in 2001 by CEO Rob Auerbach, a former toy designer for Nerf. CandyRific's revenue was $12.9 million last year and has grown 832.2 percent since 2003, according to the listing.

— To see the full list of Kentucky companies that made the Inc. 5,000, including company profiles and a list of the fastest-growing companies by industry, visit www.inc.com/inc5000.