Inc. Magazine Unveils Its Fourth Annual Exclusive List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Whelan Security Is Ranked, For the Third Consecutive Year, as One of the Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the United States

New York - Inc. magazine today ranked Whelan Security on its fourth annual exclusive list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy - America's independent minded entrepreneurs. For more than 30 years, Inc.'s list has served as evidence of the significant accomplishment of privately held business enterprises within the United States.

"The leaders of the companies on this year's list have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression," said Inc. president Bob LaPointe. "This list showcases a particularly hardy group of entrepreneurs."

Jane Berentson, Editor, added, "This year's list is a testament to the creativity, resilience and tenacity of America's top entrepreneurial companies. These organizations share a prestigious pedigree with such notable alumni as Intuit, Under Armour, Microsoft, Timberland, Visa, Patagonia, Oracle, and scores of other powerhouse companies. Inc. recognizes the creativity, dedication, and hard work that have gone into building these companies into what they are today."

With headquarters in St. Louis, MO, Whelan Security is a privately owned company providing outsourced and contract security staffing services to corporate headquarter campuses, commercial real estate facilities, financial institutions, industrial and major manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, R&D facilities, retail shopping centers, residential communities, and critical infrastructure facilities throughout most of the country including the Central, West, Pacific Northwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Founded in 1949, Whelan Security ranks within the top fifteen contract security companies in the country. In 1997, Whelan Security was a founding member of TransNational Security Group, LLC, a company that currently ranks within the top five American owned contract security companies with aggregate annual revenues exceeding $512 million and more than 18,000 employees.

The 2010 Inc. rankings, unveiled today on Inc.com, serve as a unique illustration of the profound changes taking place in the U.S. economy. Despite the fact that most of this year's measuring period of 2006 - 2009 took place during the latest recession, aggregate revenue among the companies on the list actually increased to $321.6 billion, up more than 50 percent from last year! The effects of the recession are seen, however, in the median three year growth rate, which dropped to 96 percent from last year's 126 percent. These companies employ a record 1.4 million people, up from one million on last year's list. With unemployment remaining stubbornly high, policymakers and business leaders will do well to look to these companies for fresh ideas on achieving growth and creating jobs.

Complete results, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found on www.inc.com/5000.

The 2010 list from Inc. measures revenue growth from 2006 through 2009. To qualify, companies must be U.S. based and privately held independent companies.

WHELAN SECURITY: With headquarters in St. Louis, Whelan Security is a privately owned and operated security firm providing outsourced and contract security staffing services to corporate headquarters, Class A office buildings, financial institutions, educational campuses, industrial and distribution facilities, medical facilities, retail shopping centers, residential communities, and sensitive government facilities throughout the many regions of the United States. Founded in 1949, Whelan Security currently employs more than 4,000 full-time employees and currently ranks within the top fifteen security companies in the country, placing it within the top 1% of the industry. In addition, the company also ranks as one of the top 10 privately owned contract security companies operating in the U.S.