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Presenting the top 100 private companies of 2005
Northwest Washington companies provide depth and breadth to regional economy
by Hilary Parker

A gardener who cultivates his own garden with his own hands, unites in his own person the three different characters of landlord, farmer and labourer. His produce, therefore, should pay him the rent of the first, the profit of the second, and the wages of the third.
– Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations

Much like the gardener, the businessperson who establishes a successful business will profit threefold from the endeavor. Our region is marked by several thriving “gardens” that benefit our communities threefold as well, through stimulating our general economy, providing living-wage jobs and contributing to government coffers through taxes and fees.
Each year Northwest Business Monthly highlights the most successful of the region’s privately held companies – the top 100 as ranked by sales in 2005. The companies are based in the four-county region of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties. The companies are all for-profit enterprises.

Methodology
Through initial research provided by Moss Adams and last year’s Private 100 list, the staff at Northwest Business Monthly contacted companies potentially on the list. When sales numbers could not be verified, an asterisk (*) was placed by the company’s name. When ranking companies within each sales category, NWBM staff chose the ranking within each category for those companies that stated sales numbers within a range instead of providing an exact figure.

Breadth of industry
Our region does not depend on one industry alone to drive its economy, as evidenced by the breadth of industries listed. (See the list starting on page 34.) The grocery industry leads the list with the top three companies – Haggen, Brown & Cole and Saars, Inc. Together they employ nearly 1,600 people in our region.
Construction, agriculture and horticulture, marine, and lumber industries all make a strong showing on the list as well.
The industry with the largest number of representatives on the list is auto dealerships. Nearly 20 percent of the companies listed, with a total of 18, were auto dealerships. That’s up from 13 on the list last year.
In fact, adding up the auto dealership (18), construction (15) and marine-related (12) businesses represented on the list totals 45 – nearly half the entire list.
NWBM takes a closer look at what’s going on in the auto industry starting on page 106, and in the construction industry starting on page 54. Read more about No. 14 on the Private 100, Diamond B Constructors, starting on page 76. Next month we’ll present a report on the marine industry.
Along with major industries represented on this list, there are the businesses that are a little more unusual as well. For example, Cascade Dafo of Ferndale, whose primary business is manufacturing custom prosthetic and orthotic devices. Or another Ferndale-based company, Samson Rope, which manufactures marine rope and rope systems.

Growing success
Many of the companies returning from last year reported significant gains. Commercial building contractor Exxel Pacific of Bellingham jumped from reporting more than $60 million in sales in 2004 to reporting more than $85 million in 2005.
Jumping from the 14th spot to No. 7 on the list, Ryzex of Bellingham reported more than $70 million in sales this year. Other companies reporting significant gains included Homestead NW Development Company of Lynden, Smith Gardens of Bellingham, Botanical Laboratories of Ferndale, Pacific Mariner of La Conner and Tri-County Truss of Burlington. Read more about Botanical Laboratories on page 84, and Tri-County Truss on page 10.
In total, the Private 100 provides nearly 20,000 jobs in our area and beyond and generated approximately $4 billion in sales. The results are a tribute to the strong community of small and mid-sized businesses that are so vital to our economy.

Only a few of the top 100 are mentioned here. View the top 100 list discover who else represents the top in private business in Northwest Washington.

Did we miss you?
If your company was not included on this list and you have reason to believe it should be, email editor@nwbusinessmonthly.com for inclusion on next year’s list.

Presenting the top 100 private companies of 2005 Northwest Washington companies provide depth and breadth to regional economy by Hilary Parker A gardener who cultivates his own garden with his own hands, unites in his own person the three different characters of landlord, farmer and labourer. His produce, therefore, should pay him the rent of the first, the profit of the second, and the wages of the third. – Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations Much like the gardener, the businessperson who establishes a successful business will profit threefold from the endeavor. Our region is marked by several thriving “gardens” that benefit our communities threefold as well, through stimulating our general economy, providing living-wage jobs and contributing to government coffers through taxes and fees. Each year Northwest Business Monthly highlights the most successful of the region’s privately held companies – the top 100 as ranked by sales in 2005. The companies are based in the four-county region of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties. The companies are all for-profit enterprises. Methodology Through initial research provided by Moss Adams and last year’s Private 100 list, the staff at Northwest Business Monthly contacted companies potentially on the list. When sales numbers could not be verified, an asterisk (*) was placed by the company’s name. When ranking companies within each sales category, NWBM staff chose the ranking within each category for those companies that stated sales numbers within a range instead of providing an exact figure. Breadth of industry Our region does not depend on one industry alone to drive its economy, as evidenced by the breadth of industries listed. (See the list starting on page 34.) The grocery industry leads the list with the top three companies – Haggen, Brown & Cole and Saars, Inc. Together they employ nearly 1,600 people in our region. Construction, agriculture and horticulture, marine, and lumber industries all make a strong showing on the list as well. The industry with the largest number of representatives on the list is auto dealerships. Nearly 20 percent of the companies listed, with a total of 18, were auto dealerships. That’s up from 13 on the list last year. In fact, adding up the auto dealership (18), construction (15) and marine-related (12) businesses represented on the list totals 45 – nearly half the entire list. NWBM takes a closer look at what’s going on in the auto industry starting on page 106, and in the construction industry starting on page 54. Read more about No. 14 on the Private 100, Diamond B Constructors, starting on page 76. Next month we’ll present a report on the marine industry. Along with major industries represented on this list, there are the businesses that are a little more unusual as well. For example, Cascade Dafo of Ferndale, whose primary business is manufacturing custom prosthetic and orthotic devices. Or another Ferndale-based company, Samson Rope, which manufactures marine rope and rope systems. Growing success Many of the companies returning from last year reported significant gains. Commercial building contractor Exxel Pacific of Bellingham jumped from reporting more than $60 million in sales in 2004 to reporting more than $85 million in 2005. Jumping from the 14th spot to No. 7 on the list, Ryzex of Bellingham reported more than $70 million in sales this year. Other companies reporting significant gains included Homestead NW Development Company of Lynden, Smith Gardens of Bellingham, Botanical Laboratories of Ferndale, Pacific Mariner of La Conner and Tri-County Truss of Burlington. Read more about Botanical Laboratories on page 84, and Tri-County Truss on page 10. In total, the Private 100 provides nearly 20,000 jobs in our area and beyond and generated approximately $4 billion in sales. The results are a tribute to the strong community of small and mid-sized businesses that are so vital to our economy. Only a few of the top 100 are mentioned here. View the top 100 list discover who else represents the top in private business in Northwest Washington. Did we miss you? If your company was not included on this list and you have reason to believe it should be, email editor@nwbusinessmonthly.com for inclusion on next year’s list.
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