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1. L & K Cleaning Services, Brookfield, Wis.
How did Laura and Ken Gallo, owners and operators of this janitorial service, win the most votes? By smart networking and community leadership. They grew an association for people in the cleaning trade by leaps and bounds from 60 members a few years ago to more than 5,000 this year. Needless to say, with that kind of constituency behind you, you're bound to clean up in the voting competition.
2. Whiner and Diner, Stamford, Conn.
Since 1997, Whiner and Diner has offered raised wooden pet feeders and pet beds. Catherine and Steve Simms' products are handcrafted in the United States from the recycled wooden wine crates of prestigious European and California vineyards. The dishes have quickly become the favorite elevated luxury pet feeders among dog and cat lovers, interior designers, high-end pet boutiques and fine-wine connoisseurs around the country for cats and large or small dogs.
3. Ciao Laura, Smyrna, Tenn.
Ciao Laura, as Laura Faust likes to be called, knows how to cook, and she knows how to stir up the votes. Her company takes people to Italy on cooking adventures, hopping from local restaurants to 15th-century villas to once-upon-a-time culinary hot spots like Pompeii. She must have a lot of happy customers willing to support her.
4. Sterling Advertising, Pittsburgh
Sterling is an advertising and marketing agency focused on putting the Internet to work for local businesses. Judging by the votes Claire Thompson's company got, it has the support of the Pittsburgh business community.
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5. iProficient Solutions, Braintree, Mass.
Aside from chalking up the votes, Prashanth Keesari's company provides software including mobile applications for the hospitality industry. IProficient Solutions delivers end-to-end enterprise solutions for independent hotels, corporate chains, management companies and lodging operations -- all designed to help them reinforce their brands and give guests a better experience.
6. Greenraising, Agoura Hills, Calif.
Lisa Olson is on a mission. Her company, Greenraising, is an innovative new fundraising company helping schools and nonprofits raise money while selling products that benefit the environment and other people. All products are eco-friendly and fairly traded. Some 25% of all its Web site sales and 40% of all catalog sales go directly to participating nonprofits. The general public can shop online at Greenraising's Web site and choose where the proceeds will be donated.
7. L'il Darlins, Honey Brook, Pa.
L'il Darlins was born in mid-2006 as Jeanne Roth and her daughter, Leslie Smith, set out to design children's specialty items that were creatively constructed and designed to hold up against wear and tear. The products that resulted reflect who they are: mothers looking for children's products that are appealing to the eye, washable and grow with their children. Smith's three daughters inspired the women to create the line. They have bibs, burp cloths, pillowcases, hooded bath towels and a whole lot of votes.
8. E Cellular Recycling, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Adam Hamza and his brother Abraham -- one of them in college and the other soon to be -- needed some money, so they started this cell-phone recycling business. They got a free Web site from Microsoft Office Live. Individuals and schools can use the service to get rid of old phones.
9. TriCalyx, Boulder, Colo.
TriCalyx is an online marketing firm, so it's only natural that it was a big vote-getter in this year's ranking. Kathy Keating's company is versed in a variety of online marketing strategies, including viral marketing, blogging, pay-per-click and enhancing keywords for search, as well as Web applications and e-commerce systems that drive sales.
10. RixStix, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Rick Bergeron's RixStix builds and assembles writing instruments and wine-bottle stoppers. It crafts a mix of canes and walking sticks using hardwoods harvested from the company's 10 acres of paradise in northern Idaho.
Published Nov. 5, 2007
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