Aggie entrepreneurs celebrate a decade of success

Mays Business School’s Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship (CNVE) at Texas A&M University recognized this year’s recipients of the Aggie 100, which honors the fastest-growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world.

The university, built on its core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and self-service, is producing some of the nation’s best and brightest business leaders.

Celebrating the 10th year of the Aggie 100, the CNVE honored 1,000 Aggie leaders who continue to positively impact the university, their local communities, and this nation with their success. The legacy of entrepreneurial spirit continues with each of these Aggie 100 honorees who live it every day.

“Over the past 10 years, Aggie honorees have demonstrated that the core values developed at our great university continue to play a significant role in their success,” said Richard Lester, the CNVE’s executive director. “As we reflect on the past decade of the Aggie 100, it is apparent that the 1,000 Aggie leaders who have been honored continuously strive for excellence and have proven that solid business ideas, strong character, dedication and hard work pay off.”

Texas Precious Metals of Shiner, Texas, led the list (http://www.aggie100.com) as the fastest-growing company, with a 371.964 percent growth rate.

About the Aggie 100

The Aggie 100, the first of its kind at the college level, was created by the CNVE, which has the mission of providing encouragement, education, networking and assistance to entrepreneurially-minded students, faculty and Texas businesses. The Aggie 100 is a unique way for Texas A&M to demonstrate its pride in the accomplishments of its former students while enriching the educational experience for today’s students

While there are many ways to define business success, the Aggie 100 focuses on growth as an indicator of job creation, product acceptance and entrepreneurial vision. The Aggie 100 identifies, recognizes, and celebrates the 100 fastest-growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world.

To qualify, companies were required to meet the following criteria:

In business for five years or more as of June 30, 2014
Verifiable revenues of $250,000 or more for calendar year 2011
Operations consistent with the Aggie Code of Honor
Additionally, the company must meet one of the following leadership criteria:

A Texas A&M University former student or group of former students must have owned 50% or more of the company from Jan. 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2013,
A Texas A&M former student must have served as the company’s chief executive (for example chairman, CEO, president or managing partner) from Jan. 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2013, or
A Texas A&M former student must have founded the company and been active as a member of its most senior management team from Jan. 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2013.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR NEW VENTURES AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The CNVE provides encouragement, education, networking, and assistance to entrepreneurially-minded students, faculty and Texas businesses. Founded in 1999, the center is part of Mays Business School’s Department of Management. The center enhances student education through campus speakers, competitions, work experiences, and financial support. The Texas A&M faculty and Office of Technology Commercialization also benefit from the center’s educational programs, extensive business community network, and the entrepreneurial services.

The center reaches the state’s business community through educational programs, business assistance, and access to university resources. The center receives financial support from corporations, individuals and sponsors who believe in the value of entrepreneurial education and the value of Texas businesses working with a world-class university.

ABOUT MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL

Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School educates more than 5,600 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management. Mays consistently ranks among the top public business schools in the country for its undergraduate and MBA programs, and for faculty research. The mission of Mays Business School is creating knowledge and developing ethical leaders for a global society.