PHOENIX, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- ASBA (Arizona Small Business
Association), in collaboration with the Edward Lowe Foundation, announces
the 2008 Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch awardees. With more than
80,000 second-stage growth companies around the state, ASBA traveled to
cities, statewide to share the opportunity to recognize Arizona companies
on the fast track. More than 300 Arizona based companies were nominated for
the chance to be selected as a 2008 Arizona Company to Watch.

    

    Research has shown that these firms show the greatest potential and
results. They span all industries and they are creating jobs at a
disproportionate rate as compared to their larger and smaller counterparts
even in a down market. "Of all resident establishments in Arizona, 12% are
second stage companies, and those companies create 41.6% of the jobs in the
state," according to research by the Edward Lowe Foundation. "That's 3.5%
higher than the U.S. average," stated Joan Koerber-Walker, ASBA CEO.

    The 2008 Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch Awardees will be
honored at the third annual awards ceremony November 11 the Phoenix
Convention Center from 6-9 p.m. In addition, five companies will receive
the Spotlight Awards in the following areas: Company Culture, Customer
Service, Change/Innovation, Community and Commerce at the event. Until
then, Spotlight Awardees are top secret.

    "Companies like the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch are one of
the reasons that Arizona leads the country in economic growth. Through the
efforts of great employees who deliver innovative products and services,
these companies are growing at over four times the national average!" says
Joan Koerber-Walker, CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association. "ASBA
is proud to be recognizing and supporting this growing community of
excellent companies," Koerber-Walker adds.

    "Second-stage entrepreneurs are very important in this region,
generating jobs and sustaining economic growth. Working with ASBA, we have
a chance to recognize these companies' impact, and to help build a
self-help network," said Meredith Russell, president of Comerica Bank in
Arizona.

    "Comerica Bank Companies to Watch is a unique awards program designed
to shine the spotlight on second-stage companies," says Penny Lewandowski,
director of entrepreneurship at the Edward Lowe Foundation, a
not-for-profit operating foundation based in Michigan. The foundation
supports entrepreneurship through research, recognition and educational
programs, which are delivered through entrepreneur support organizations
(ESOs) like ASBA, with a focus on second-stage companies.

    The research Koerber-Walker refers to comes from YourEconomy(TM)
(http://www.youreconomy.org), a new online tool created by the foundation to track
business activity through time. YourEconomy enables users to see key trends
and view their business communities from a new perspective.

    "Comerica Bank partnered with ASBA in support of Arizona's small
businesses community. It is companies like these who are the bedrock of our
economy. If you are looking for examples of companies that demonstrate
business excellence and inspiring levels of growth, you need to look no
further than this 2008 class of Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch"
shared Rick Danford, First Vice President of Small Business Banking at
Comerica Bank, Arizona.



    The 2008 Awardees are:

    Able Information Technologies, Inc., Chandler
    ActiveForever, Scottsdale
    AllSource Global Management, LLC, Sierra Vista
    ATS Electric, Inc., Phoenix
    Autohaus Arizona, Inc., Phoenix
    Caliente Construction, Inc., Mesa
    CCS Presentation Systems, Scottsdale
    CellTrust Corp., Scottsdale
    Collins Holdings, LLC., Tempe
    Company Nurse, LLC., Scottsdale
    CRS Temporary Housing, Phoenix
    Electronic Payment Providers, Inc., Phoenix
    EventPro Strategies, Tempe
    FlexPrint, Inc., Tempe
    Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C., Tucson
    Hospitality Performance Network, Scottsdale
    iMemories, Scottsdale
    Job Brokers Inc., Tempe
    Killer Shade, Phoenix
    Kutta Consulting, Inc., Phoenix
    Kyle Jones Enterprises, Inc., Phoenix
    Lapre Scali & Company, Scottsdale
    Lensco, Phoenix
    Logan Commercial Advisors, Scottsdale
    McFadden/Gavender Advertising, Inc., Tucson
    MKS Graphics, Inc., Tempe
    Morrison & Associates, CPAs PLLC., Chandler
    MSS Technologies, Inc., Phoenix
    My Computer Works, Scottsdale
    Nutri-Health, LLC., Cottonwood
    Orca Communications Unlimited, LLC., Phoenix
    Orchard Medical Consulting, Phoenix
    Paragon Space Development Corporation, Tucson
    Pragmatic Marketing, Scottsdale
    Precision Trials, LLC., Phoenix
    Primus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Scottsdale
    Professional Employment Solutions, Inc., Scottsdale
    Realty DataTrust Corp., Scottsdale
    Sierra Toyota, Sierra Vista
    Silverado Cable Company, Mesa
    Sindel Technology Solutions, Inc., Tempe
    Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe
    SpringBoard, Inc., Phoenix
    StaffingMedical USA Inc., Scottsdale
    Telesphere, Scottsdale
    Terralever LLC., Tempe
    The Arizona Car Wash Company, Phoenix
    The Lavidge Company, Scottsdale
    TriSports.com, Tucson
    Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, Tucson

    Companies considered for the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch
list are second-stage companies. For purposes of this award, they are
defined as having 10 to 100 full-time-equivalent employees and generating
$750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or working capital from
investors or grants. In addition, the companies must be privately held and
headquartered in Arizona.

    Judges evaluated the companies for their demonstrated intent and
capacity to grow based on one or more of the following



    -- Employee or sales growth.
    -- Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership.
    -- Sustainable competitive advantage.
    -- Other notable factors that showcase the company's success.

    Information about Arizona Companies to Watch can be found at
http://www.asba.com and http://www.AzCompaniesToWatch.org. To register a table or
purchase individual tickets, call 480-403-4601.

    Following the Nov. 11 celebration, the 50 companies selected as 2008
Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch join with 100 past winners from
2006 and 2007 in the Comerica Bank Arizona Companies to Watch Alliance an
ongoing experience designed specifically to support companies on the growth
path.

    Programs like this are made possible by community partners and
sponsors. ASBA recognizes Comerica Bank, Telesphere, Republic Media,
Jobing.com, Compass Insurance, Staples, Televerde, APS/AAAME, SCF Arizona,
The Lavidge Company, 1510 KFNN Financial News Radio, Infusionsoft,
Corporate Broadcast Center, Arizona Department of Commerce, Metro Studios
and KAET Eight their contribution to second-stage companies.