SPONSORED BY

Building Better Businesses For Nearly 30 Years

Since 1993, the principals of Ridgemont Equity Partners have invested over $5 billion in 154 companies. Ridgemont is the We back management teams. largest private equity firm in and among the largest These are not just financial relationships – these partnerships in the Southeast. The firm was named to Inc.’s inaugural list require complete alignment in vision for the future of the of “Top 50 Founder-Friendly Private Equity Firms,” which recognized Ridgemont for a track record of building leading business and mutual trust in each other’s middle market companies alongside entrepreneurs. capabilities. From the first 100-day plan, to geographic For the second year in a row, we are pleased to sponsor Busi- “and product expansion, to investments in technology; and, ness North Carolina’s “Top 125 Private Companies” list and wish to most importantly, alignment in the culture of the congratulate the honorees! For more information on Ridgemont’s business and investments in the team and investment strategy, visit www.ridgemontep.com. employee base.

BUILDING FOUNDATIONS • Supporting perpetual recruiting and talent development • Building-out the technology and systems infrastructure ” IGNITING GROWTH • Investing in promising new business lines and sales initiatives • Pursuing strategic acquisitions FOSTERING A UNIQUE CULTURE • Respecting the company’s legacy • Challenging the next generation to evolve

SPONSORED SECTION SPONSORED BY

Chevrolets, , turkey legs and solar panels are some of the products powering the state’s biggest closely held enterprises.

By Alyssa Pressler, Taylor Wanbaugh and David Mildenberg

elcome to BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA’s annual list of the pre-COVID-19 environment that virtually everyone hopes will return state’s largest privately held companies. For more than 30 as soon as possible. The most notable newcomer is Cary-based Epic Wyears, similar lists have showcased the hometown busi- Games, which ranks No. 3 after enjoying explosive growth because nesses that sustain North Carolina’s economy, often with little or no of the popularity of its Fortnite video game. fanfare. Private equity-controlled companies whose operations are based Most of the information on the list comes directly from the com- in North Carolina are eligible for the list. An example is newcomer panies. For a second consecutive year, the list also includes our best Segra, a Charlotte-based telecommunications provider owned by a estimates for revenues and employment at some businesses that large Swedish investment group. It bought High Point-based North didn’t want to share the basics. It took many phone calls and emails State Telecommunications this year. to compile what is an unparalleled look at North Carolina’s private- But the list is mostly companies owned by families that have oper- company universe. ated in North Carolina for decades, if not generations. To say they are This year’s list is based on 2019 revenue. Hence, it reflects the the backbone of the Tar Heel economy is an understatement.

$1 billion in University of . Automotive 5. Transportation Insight or more News ranked Hendrick Automotive revenue (latest fiscal year) as the fifth-largest U.S. dealership Hickory group and No. 1 based on body Logistics consultant 1. Hendrick Automotive shop revenue. It operates 95 deal- 2019 Rank: 5 erships. CEO: Reynolds Faulkner Charlotte Employees: 1,460 Automotive dealerships 2. American Tire Distributors 2019 Rank: 1 6. SAS Institute CEO: Rick Hendrick Huntersville Employees: 10,600 Tire distribution service Cary 2019 Rank: 2 Software development CEO: Stuart Schuette 2019 Rank: 4 Employees: 4,700 (estimated) CEO: James Goodnight Employees: 13,939 3. Epic Games 7. Alex Lee Cary Video game company Hickory 2019 Rank: N/A Wholesale and retail grocer CEO: Tim Sweeney 2019 Rank: 6 Hendrick has a new leadership Employees: 2,200 (estimated) CEO: Brian George structure, with founder and Chair- Employees: 13,700 man Rick Hendrick assuming the 4. Belk role of CEO after the Jan. 1 retire- 8. Parkdale ment of Edward Brown III. Brown Charlotte had held the post since 2011. Greg Department store chain Gastonia Gach, who has been affiliated 2019 Rank: 3 Textile company with the business since 1984, was CEO: Lisa Harper 2019 Rank: 7 named president. Gach has a bach- Employees: 24,000 (estimated) CEO: Anderson Warlick elor’s degree from Miami University Employees: 5,000 (estimated) in and a law degree from the

SEPTEMBER 2020 45 9. Flow Automotive $500 million Station in City to with a frame constructed in Poland. It Winston-Salem $999 million is expected to open this fall. Allegha- Automotive dealerships ny Capital bought a majority stake in 2019 Rank: 8 15. Market America 2018. CEO: Don Flow Employees: 1,800 (estimated) Greensboro 21. Product brokerage and digital marketer AmWINS Group Charlotte 10. Pike 2019 Rank: 16 CEO: JR Ridinger Wholesale insurance distributor Mount Airy Employees: 805 2019 Rank: 11 Construction and engineering services CEO: Scott Purviance for electric utilities 16. Variety Wholesalers Employees: 4,000 (estimated) 2019 Rank: 10 Henderson CEO: J. Eric Pike 22. Discount retailer Window World Employees: 8,300 2019 Rank: 22 North Wilkesboro CEO: Art Pope Window installation service Employees: 8,000 (estimated) 2019 Rank: 29 CEO: Tammy Whitworth 17. Goldsboro Milling Employees: 1,000 (estimated) Goldsboro 23. Grain, poultry and pork production Charlotte Pipe & Foundry 2019 Rank: 15 Charlotte CEO: H.G. Maxwell III Pipe manufacturer and supplier Employees: 800 (estimated) 2019 Rank: 24 CEO: Roddey Dowd Jr. 18. SteelFab Employees: 1,500 (estimated) 11. Leith Cars Charlotte 24. Barnhill Contracting Raleigh Steel fabricator Automotive dealerships 2019 Rank: 18 Rocky Mount 2019 Rank: 14 CEO: R. Glenn Sherrill Jr. General contractor CEO: Danny Williams Employees: 1,288 2019 Rank: 26 Employees: 1,800 (estimated) CEO: Robert Barnhill 19. CTE Employees: 1,020 12. Charlotte Form Technologies 25. ACN Charlotte Dealer of construction and industrial equipment Concord Manufacturer of metal components 2019 Rank: 17 Telecommunications service provider 2019 Rank: 12 CEO: Ed Weisiger Jr. 2019 Rank: 21 CEO: Mike Grunza Employees: 1,500 (estimated) CEO: Greg Provenzano Employees: 10,000 (estimated) Employees: 1,100 (estimated) 20. Concord Hospitality Enterprises 13. Prestage Farms Raleigh 26. Gregory Poole Equipment Clinton Hotel management and development Raleigh Pork and poultry production 2019 Rank: 19 Dealer of construction and other 2019 Rank: 25 CEO: Mark Laport equipment CEO: Bill Prestage Employees: 6,014 2019 Rank: 27 Employees: 2,900 CEO: J. Gregory Poole III Employees: 1,300 (estimated) 14. National Gypsum 27. Southco Distributing Charlotte Manufacturer of wallboard products Goldsboro 2019 Rank: 9 Convenience-store supplier CEO: Thomas Nelson 2019 Rank: 33 Employees: 2,500 (estimated) CEO: Sherwin Herring Employees: 217 The hotel developer ended 2019 with 120 hotels in the U.S. and Canada, many of them with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Choice and IHG brands. The company is developing the world’s tall-

est modular hotel, a 26-story inn near OF MARRIOTT COURTESY PHOTO

46 BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA CAROLINA HANDLING

the meeting and convention industry lYour Trusted Material Handling Partner

We did not win Business North Carolina’s “Top 125 Private technician training and more. From fleet service to racking to Companies for 2020” alone. Far from it. We would like to thanktelematics to lighting to fleet reporting, we know how to maxi- our associates for their dedication and hard work, along with ourmize warehouse operations, minimize downtime and promote customers for their continued support and trust. This award isefficiencies. truly a team effort—and we are grateful. If you need equipment to run your operations, you can get it For more than 50 years, Carolina Handling has helped from Carolina Handling—along with expert tips and guidance companies drive productivity and reduce costs throughout their on how to get the most out of it. We believe that the more warehouse operations. Our material handling solutions are not information you have on your assets, the better. And with our only proven, they’re customized—ready to fit any size operation. revolutionary suite of warehouse optimization tools, you can take What we do, we do well. Yes, we’re known for providing control of your operations and reduce costs. excellent forklift service as a Raymond Corporation Dealer of Hardworking, tough-as-nails Raymond forklifts and equip- Distinction for 29 consecutive years, and for that we are proud. ment. Expert, proven service. Cost-saving warehouse optimization Service is the backbone of our operations; however, we solutions. This is how Carolina Handling is improving warehouse provide our customers with a complete one-stop material handling operations throughout the Southeast—and it’s how we can help partner and supplier that offers expert service, consultation, improve yours. parts and equipment, warehouse products and solutions,

Corporate Office 4835 Sirona Drive, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28273 704-357-6273 carolinahandling.com

Carolina Handling is the exclusive Raymond Sales & Service Center for North Carolina, , , and

SPONSORED SECTION 28. Sampson-Bladen Oil Co. 33. Vannoy Construction $200 million to $499 million Clinton Jefferson Distributor of petroleum products General contractor 40. Snider Fleet Solutions 2019 Rank: 28 2019 Rank: 45 Greensboro CEO: Haddon Clark III CEO: Eddie Vannoy Tire distributor and service provider Employees: 1,000 (estimated) Employees: 331 2019 Rank: 41 CEO: Marty Herndon 29. Shurtape Technologies 34. CaptiveAire Systems Employees: 1,200 Hickory Raleigh 41. ettain group Manufacturer of adhesive tape, Manufacturer of kitchen-ventilation Charlotte consumer goods and office supplies equipment Information-technology staffing agency 2019 Rank: 30 2019 Rank: 39 2019 Rank: 80 CEO: Vuk Trivanovic CEO: Bob Luddy CEO: Trent Beekman Employees: 1,600 Employees: 1,400 Employees: 3,000 35. National Coatings & Supplies 42. Renfro Raleigh Mount Airy Paint distributor for collision-repair shops Sock manufacturer 2019 Rank: 35 2019 Rank: 37 CEO: John Leavy CEO: Stan Jewell Employees: 1,350 Employees: 4,000 (estimated) 36. ECMD 43. Rodgers Builders North Wilkesboro Charlotte Established in 1955 and still owned by General contractor the Shuford family, Shurtape Technolo- Manufacturer and distributor of 2019 Rank: 43 gies makes tape and other office sup- millwork products CEO: Pat Rodgers plies for global markets. Its ShurTech 2019 Rank: 42 Employees: 300 (estimated) division, which is responsible for Duck CEO: Todd Meade Tape and FrogTape, rebranded to the Employees: 875 Shurtape Technologies name this year. 44. Segra Demand for pandemic-related social 37. Liberty Healthcare & Charlotte distancing tape floor markings has Rehabilitation spurred sales. Telecommunications service provider Wilmington 2019 Rank: N/A Nursing homes and health services CEO: Timothy Blitz 30. Ennis-Flint Employees: 1,000 (estimated) 2019 Rank: 51 Greensboro CEO: John A. McNeill Jr. Manufacturer of pavement markings Employees: 1,500 (estimated) and traffic products 2019 Rank: 31 38. The Cook & Boardman Group CEO: Matt Soule Winston-Salem Employees: 1,500 Distributor of architectural doors, 31. frames, door hardware and related Atlantic Packaging building products Wilmington 2019 Rank: 38 Distributor of industrial packaging CEO: Darrin Anderson Charlotte is home to this fast-grow- materials and paper converter Employees: 1,300 ing U.S. telecom. Segra was formed in 2019 by the merger of Columbia, 2019 Rank: 34 39. Flexential S.C.-based Spirit Communications CEO: Russell Carter and Waynesboro, Va.-based Lumos Employees: 1,171 Charlotte Networks. In May, it acquired High Data-center operator Point-based North State Telecommuni- 32. Clancy & Theys Construction cations, one of the state’s last indepen- 2019 Rank: 40 dent telephone companies, for $240 Raleigh CEO: Chris Downie million. Segra’s main owner is Swedish Employees: 900 (estimated) General contractor private equity group EQT Partners. 2019 Rank: 36 CEO: Tim Clancy Employees: 400 PHOTO COURTESY OF FULL METAL CHICKEN OF FULL METAL COURTESY PHOTO

48 BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA GO MAJESTIC Majestic is the Carolina’s preferred manufacturer and installer of fabricated stone, glass, countertops, and kitchen and bath accessories to custom and mass production home- builders, apartment developers, medical facilities, commercial builders, and general contractors. As an industry leader, Majestic invests in people, training, technology, equipment, and process excellence to ensure product quality and precision, on-time delivery, and first-time right installation. As a corporate citizen, Majestic honors our nation’s veterans through employment opportunities and Majestic4USTroops fundraising initiatives. Majestic operates in the Carolina’s major metropolitan areas.

VISIT GOMAJESTIC.COM

Charleston • Coastal Carolina • Charlotte • Greensboro • Greenville • Myrtle Beach • Raleigh • Wilmington

SAFETY | STEWARDSHIP | PASSION | COLLABORATION

Clancy & Theys Construction Company is one of the largest vertical builders owned and headquartered in North Carolina. Originally founded in Raleigh in 1949, the company is one of the largest privately-owned entities in the state and one of the largest contractors in the Southeast. With offices in Raleigh, Wilmington and Charlotte, as well as Newport News, and Orlando, , Clancy & Theys has a solid construction presence throughout the southeast region of the . Clancy & Theys offers a full range of Preconstruction, Construction, and Virtual Design and Construction services, as well as the ability to self-perform sitework and general trades.

516 WEST CABARRUS STREET | RALEIGH, NC 27603 | 919.834.3601 | CLANCYTHEYS.COM

SPONSORED SECTION SEPTEMBER 2020 49 45. Samet 53. Eastwood Homes 2019 Rank: 67 CEO: Thomas Teague Greensboro Charlotte Employees: 1,029 General contractor Homebuilder 2019 Rank: 54 2019 Rank: 57 61. Colony Tire CEO: Arthur Samet CEO: Clark Stewart Edenton Employees: 238 Employees: 300 (estimated) Tire distributor and auto repair service 46. D.H. Griffin 54. Crowder Constructors 2019 Rank: 68 CEO: Charles Creighton Greensboro Charlotte Employees: 600 Demolition, environmental and General contractor site-development conglomerate 2019 Rank: 55 2019 Rank: 48 CEO: Lynn Hansen CEO: David Griffin Employees: 927 Employees: 1,000 (estimated) 47. Adams Beverages of NC 55. Carolina Handling Charlotte Charlotte Beer distributor Distributor of material-handling 2019 Rank: 32 equipment Founded in 1976 in Rodanthe with just President: Clay Adams 2019 Rank: 62 two gas pumps, the automotive and Employees: 700 (estimated) CEO: Brent Hillabrand tire service provider has grown to 40 Employees: 600 locations in the and Virginia. 48. Strata Solar CEO Charles Creighton was named Modern Tire Dealer magazine’s 2007 Chapel Hill 56. Harvey Enterprises & Affiliates Tire Dealer of the Year and was in- Solar developer Kinston ducted into the N.C. Tire Industry Hall 2019 Rank: 44 of Fame in 2011. Last year, it began a Distributor of farm equipment and $3.3 million, 100,000-square-foot ex- CEO: Markus Wilhelm petroleum products Employees: 400 (estimated) pansion of its 200-employee Edenton 2019 Rank: 49 facility with plans to add at least 40 CEO: John McNairy jobs. 49. Global Knowledge Employees: 801 Cary 62. Precision Walls Information technology and business- 57. skills trainer MegaCorp Logistics Cary 2019 Rank: 50 Wilmington Building contractor CEO: Todd Johnstone Logistics consultant 2019 Rank: 72 Employees: 1,000 2019 Rank: 58 CEO: Brian Allen CEO: Ryan Legg Employees: 949 50. Murphy Family Ventures Employees: 325 Wallace 63. Baker Roofing Hospitality, farming, boatmaking 58. Raleigh 2019 Rank: 52 Roofing contractor CEO: Wendell “Dell” Murphy Jr. Raleigh 2019 Rank: 61 Employees: 1,000 (estimated) Restaurants CEO: Mark Lee 2019 Rank: 60 Employees: 1,033 CEO: Lance Trenary 51. True Homes Employees: 2,100 (estimated) 64. Boddie-Noell Enterprises Monroe Rocky Mount Homebuilder 59: Blythe Development Hardee’s franchise operator 2019 Rank: 53 Charlotte 2019 Rank: 46 CEOs: Dan Horner and Mark Boyce CEO: William Boddie General contractor Employees: 300 (estimated) Employees: 10,000 (estimated) 2019 Rank: 64 52. Edifice CEO: Jack Blythe 65. Biltmore Employees: 925 Charlotte Asheville General contractor 60. Museum and lodging 2019 Rank: 56 Salem Holding 2019 Rank: 65 CEO: Eric Laster Winston-Salem CEO: William Cecil Jr. Employees: 100 (estimated) Provider of transportation and Employees: 2,600 (estimated) truck-leasing services

50 BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA DMA SALES

the meeting and convention industry lA Company Built On Innovation & Passion

Founded in 2008 by President and CEO, John Treece, and Headquartered in Tabor City, NC, with over a 1,000,000 company CFO, Steve Bertling, DMA Sales has quickly grown square feet of distribution space across its four facilities in North to become a trusted supplier to the automotive and heavy-duty and South Carolina, DMA continues to deliver on its mission to parts aftermarket industry. Serving OES, big box retail, wholesale, provide innovation and value for its customers. With growth in and e-tail sales channels, DMA is a leading product development, sales to soon approach over $130 million and no signs of slowing engineering, and diversified manufacturer whose portfolio of down any time soon, DMA is poised for continued success. “Our product brands have become some of the most recognized and company has a dynamic, performance -driven culture that embodies respected in their industry. In addition, DMA is a leading private the entrepreneurial spirit from which we were founded. Hard label manufacturer with over 60% of its global revenues coming work, collaboration with our partners, and taking care of our from products produced by them but under the customer’s brand. employees and their families are what has propelled our company’s For the fourth consecutive year, DMA has been named to success. That’s why we say, we are a company that is built on pas- the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private compa- sion,” said John Treece. nies in America. In 2019, DMA ranked as the #2 fastest -grow DMA is also a company which cares about its communities. ing Mid-Market sized company in North Carolina. The companyHaving donated over $2.5 million in charitable contributions, has won numerous national awards for its engineering innovationsDMA actively supports its local civic initiatives and encourages its and brand marketing strategies. Mr. Treece was named Personemployees to get involved and give back. of the Year for 2019 by the Auto Care Association and serves DMA’s Senior Management Team (pictured above from left to right) as Chairman of the Executive Leadership Council for the Import Larry Clark, Director of Product Development, Steve Bertling, CFO, John Treece, President & CEO, Maria Treece, EVP & CPIO, Olga McIntyre, CIO, Vehicle Community. Sophie Mirabel, Director of HR

233 N US Highway 701 Bypass, Tabor City, NC 28463 | 910-653-7101 | DMA-SALES.COM

SPONSORED SECTION 66. Frank L. Blum Construction 72. Landmark Builders 80. American Welding & Gas Asheville Winston-Salem Raleigh General contractor Construction company Manufacturer and distributor of gases 2019 Rank: 63 2019 Rank: 66 and welding supplies CEO: Mike Lancaster CEO: Steve Stephens 2019 Rank: 81 Employees: 175 (estimated) Employees: 176 CEO: Jason Krieger Employees: 571 67. HSM Hickory Springs 73. Carolina Beverage Group 81. Parata Systems Salisbury Hickory Cheerwine distributor Durham Furniture component manufacturer 2019 Rank: 76 Provider of drug-dispensing technology for pharmacies 2019 Rank: N/A CEO: Cliff Ritchie CEO: Mark Jones Employees: 600 2019 Rank: 108 Employees: 2,700 (estimated) CEO: Rob Kill $100 million to $199 million Employees: 400 68. Camco Manufacturing 82. Furnitureland South Greensboro 74. Epes Logistics Services Jamestown Manufacturer and distributor of RV accessories Greensboro Furniture retailer 2019 Rank: 70 Logistics consultant 2019 Rank: N/A CEOs: Donald Caine and Lisa Cook 2019 Rank: 74 CEO: Jeffrey Harris Employees: 462 CEO: Jason Bodford Employees: 495 Employees: 183 69. Tencarva Machinery 83. T.A. Loving 75. Advantage Truck Center Greensboro Goldsboro Distributor of liquid- and air-handling Charlotte Commercial construction equipment Retail truck dealership 2019 Rank: 77 2019 Rank: 71 2019 Rank: 78 CEO: Samuel Hunter CEO: Ed Pearce CEO: Terry Young Employees: 245 Employees: 370 Employees: 160 84. The Budd Group 76. 70. JF Petroleum Group Powerhome Solar Winston-Salem Morrisville Mooresville Provider of janitorial, landscaping and Fuel-equipment installer and service Solar energy and roofing company maintenance services provider 2019 Rank: 102 2019 Rank: 86 2019 Rank: 69 CEO: Jayson Waller CEO: Joseph Budd CEO: Keith Shadrick Employees: 1,106 Employees: 4,417 Employees: 800 (estimated) 77. Omega Construction 85. AvidXchange 71. Union Corrugating Winston-Salem Charlotte Fayetteville Commercial construction Payment-processing software Manufacturer of metal roofing materials 2019 Rank: 88 2019 Rank: 92 2019 Rank: 73 CEO: Barry Hennings CEO: Michael Praeger 2019 Rank: Keith Medick Employees: 90 Employees: 1,500 Employees: 640 78. Electrical Equipment 86. insightsoftware Raleigh Raleigh Distributor of electrical equipment Software developer 2019 Rank: 79 2019 Rank: 103 CEO: Mark Holmes CEO: Mike Lipps Employees: 258 Employees: 727 79. Carolina Wholesale Group 87. N2 Publishing The residential, commercial and agri- Charlotte cultural roofing and siding company Wilmington opened in Fayetteville in 1946. It has Distributor of office supplies and equipment Publisher of community magazines expanded to 18 manufacturing and dis- 2019 Rank: 75 tribution locations across 15 states. It CEO: Larry Huneycutt 2019 Rank: 84 recently acquired Florence, Ala.-based Employees: 175 CEO: Duane Hixon Oakland Metal Buildings. Employees: 325

52 BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA BETTER TOGETHER

National Coatings & Supplies / Single Source, Inc. (NCS/ SSI) is your local paint, body, and equipment (“PBE”) distributor with a national footprint. With over 180 stores and multiple mobile stores, we distribute the top brands in the automotive refinish industry. Our primary focus is to help our customers be NCSSSI.COM more profitable and productive by providing industry leading Paint & Material Inventory Control solutions as well as access to extensive industry training. NCS/SSI has joined forces to forge ahead, knowing we are “Better Together.”

Automotive Paint & Refinishing • Transportation, Aerospace and Marine Coatings • Industrial Coatings • Tools and Equipment

SIMPLIFY ACCESS TrialCard is a full-service pharmaceutical solutions company located in Morrisville, NC. Since 2000, we have been providing strategic guidance and integrated solutions to the marketplace. We employ approximately 2,000 team members who address our clients’ regular and cyclical business needs. TrialCard is one of the largest independent patient services organizations supporting the pharmaceutical market. Our attention to detail, commitment to our clients, and locations in areas that rich in healthcare talent allow us to provide levels of service that are unsurpassed in our industry.

2250 Perimeter Park Drive #300, Morrisville, NC 27560 | 919-845-0774 | [email protected] | trialcard.com

SPONSORED SECTION SEPTEMBER 2020 53 88. Morrisette 93. Mickey Truck Bodies 98. MedStream Anesthesia Browns Summit High Point Solutions Distributor of paper, packaging and Manufacturer of truck bodies and Asheville janitorial supplies trailers Anesthesia services provider 2019 Rank: 85 2019 Rank: 99 2019 Rank: 101 CEO: Bill Morrisette CEO: Matt Sink CEO: Doug Ellington Employees: 260 Employees: 479 Employees: 84 The company opened as a blacksmith 89. Mako Medical Laboratories shop 116 years ago. The fourth-gen- 99. Myers & Chapman Raleigh eration family-owned business is one of the largest suppliers of beverage Charlotte Laboratory testing services trailers, beverage bodies, side loaders General contractor 2019 Rank: 94 and emergency vehicles in the U.S. 2019 Rank: 93 CEO: Chad Price The company distributes its vehicles CEO: Marcus Rabun Employees: 715 to more than 50 countries around the Employees: 68 world. It manufactures about 5,000 dry freight van bodies annually. 100. Smith Turf & Irrigation 94. Charlotte InVue Security Products Distributor of landscaping and irrigation Charlotte equipment Provider of security products for retail 2019 Rank: 95 displays CEO: Stephen Smith 2019 Rank: 90 Employees: 253 CEO: Jim Sankey Demand for COVID-19 testing prompt- Employees: 275 (estimated) 101. Daly Seven ed Mako to add more than 200 em- ployees in the last year, even as the 95. Greensboro pandemic initially caused a 40% de- Carotek Hotel management and development cline in its core business as medical Matthews 2019 Rank: 96 visits plummeted. But the company Distributor of industrial equipment CEO: Bob Daly was growing rapidly long before the Employees: 1,200 (estimated) pandemic. Chad Price and Josh Arant 2019 Rank: 91 founded the business in 2014, and President: Deryl Bell 102. it topped $100 million in revenue in Employees: 175 (estimated) Smart Choice Insurance 2018. Forbes named it to its list of 96. High Point America’s Best Startup Employers in Autobell Car Wash Insurance broker July. Charlotte 2019 Rank: 97 Car wash operator CEO: Douglas Witcher 90. TrialCard 2019 Rank: N/A Employees: 60 (estimated) Morrisville CEO: Chuck Howard Employees: 3,000 (estimated) 103. DuBose Strapping Pharmaceutical marketing services Clinton 2019 Rank: 87 97. Jaggaer CEO: Mark Bouck Distributor of industrial equipment Employees: 1,100 (estimated) Morrisville 2019 Rank: 98 Cloud-based automation technology CEO: Charles DuBose Jr. 91. Wayne Brothers provider Employees: 180 Davidson 2019 Rank: N/A CEO: Jim Bureau 104. Prometheus Group Provider of concrete and site-work Employees: 1,000 construction services Raleigh 2019 Rank: 83 Jaggaer is the renamed SciQuest, Software developer CEO: Keith Wayne which started 25 years ago as an online 2019 Rank: N/A Employees: 513 marketplace for scientific equipment. CEO: Eric Huang It has evolved into a digital-procure- Employees: 300 (estimated) ment company, helping companies buy equipment and supplies efficiently 105. McGee Brothers 92. Best Logistics Group using cloud-based technology. Pri- vate equity group Accel-KKR bought Monroe Kernersville the then-public company in 2016 for Masonry contractor $519 million and changed its name Transportation services and 2019 Rank: 100 management a year later. Cinven, a British private equity group, bought controlling inter- CEO: Mike McGee 2019 Rank: 89 est from Accel-KKR in August 2019. Employees: 650 (estimated) CEO: Roy Cox Jaggaer is a derivation of the German Employees: 500 (estimated) word for hunter.

54 BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA GENERATING POWERFUL RESULTS How North Carolina’s largest residential solar power installer found great success amid pandemic

COVID-19 forced businesses to make hard decisions in March, the company’s COVID response. “It was incredibly humbling and when the virus reached pandemic status. For Mooresville-based emotional when we had a number of employees volunteer to take POWERHOME SOLAR, one of the leading residential installers pay cuts to improve our cash flow. That we’ve managed to weather of solar in the U.S., its decision involved whether to remain open this storm and emerge stronger is a testament to the team that amid the uncertainty. It had that choice to stay open because of we’ve built, and continue to build.” its status as an essential business providing energy infrastructure. POWERHOME SOLAR began 2020 with 756 employees, but Company CEO Jayson Waller and his executive team removed the company has since added 400 more staffers. The company is themselves from payroll and opted to forge ahead to give employ- now ranked as the No. 7 residential installer in the U.S. according ees the opportunity to continue earning paychecks, but also gave to Solar Power World’s 2020 rankings, up one spot from a year concerned workers the chance to take leave without penalty until ago, and it remains as North Carolina’s No. 1 residential installer. conditions improved. “We know what we’re doing changes lives,” Waller said. While the company encountered soft sales over those first 30 “We’re building a movement of solar energy, one solar panel, one days, the executives did not anticipate what lie ahead. Record customer and one employee at a time, and every array we install sales months came in May, June and July, with the company dis- gets us all to a cleaner tomorrow.” covering homeowners with strong appetites for taking control of their energy futures and investing in solar. Also playing a part in the company’s success was forming a partnership with Generac, allowing POWERHOME SOLAR to begin selling Generac’s solar batteries and generators. Both items give customers opportunities to benefit from a whole-home energy package. 919 N. Main Street “We wanted to make sure that the moms and dads who Mooresville, NC 28115 needed to buy diapers and keep their families running had a chance 800-POWER-90 to do that,” POWERHOME SOLAR CEO Jayson Waller said of powerhome.com

Home Energy Efficiency | Residential Solar | Commercial Solar

SPONSORED SECTION 106. Allen Industries 114. Alliance of Professionals & 119. Warren Oil Greensboro Consultants Dunn Sign manufacturer Raleigh Manufacturer and distributor of 2019 Rank: 115 Professional and staffing services petroleum products CEO: Tom Allen 2019 Rank: 111 2019 Rank: 59 Employees: 338 CEO: W. Troy Roberts CEO: Dan Owczarzak Employees: 398 Employees: 431 107. Remi Charlotte 115. Systel Business Equipment 120. Hickory Construction Equipment-maintenance management Fayetteville Hickory 2019 Rank: 106 Electronics dealer and service provider General contractor CEO: Dan Schuster 2019 Rank: 116 2019 Rank: 120 Employees: 129 CEO: Keith Allison CEO: Mark Baucom Employees: 250 Employees: 38 108. Oliver’s Oil 116. Lumberton Fairfield Chair 121. Enviro-Master Services Convenience stores, distributor of Lenoir Charlotte petroleum products Furniture maker 2019 Rank: 110 Commercial cleaning service 2019 Rank: 117 2019 Rank: 121 CEO: Christopher Oliver CEO: R. Dixon Mitchell Jr. Employees: 125 CEO: Pat Swisher Employees: 420 Employees: 500 (estimated) $99 117. Majestic Kitchen & Bath million and under 122. Creations Imagine Software 109. Spectraforce Technologies Youngsville Charlotte Countertop and mirror shop Billing-automation software for Raleigh medical industry 2019 Rank: N/A Staffing and consulting services 2019 Rank: 123 CEO: Scott Byers 2019 Rank: 105 CEO: Sam Khashman Employees: 246 CEO: Amit Singh Employees: 162 Employees: 2,500 (estimated) 123. 110. Capitol Broadcasting Co. Hornwood Raleigh Lilesville Fabric manufacturer Media company 2019 Rank: 122 2019 Rank: N/A CEO: Chuck Horne CEO: James Goodmon Employees: 300 Employees: 550 111. Pine Hall Brick 124. Transportation Impact Winston-Salem CEO Scott Byers and three senior man- Emerald Isle Brick manufacturer agers led a buyout of the business in Logistics consultant 2019 Rank: 107 June from Majestic’s founding family, 2019 Rank: 125 CEO: Fletcher Steele completing a transition that started in CEO: Berkley Stafford Employees: 350 (estimated) 2017. The 30-year-old company makes Employees: 73 and sells a wide range of granite, mar- ble, stone and other kitchen and bath 112. CornerStone United products. The company has seven 125. DuBose Industries Hickory locations in the Carolinas, including Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Clinton Provider of warranties and service Service provider of steel and steel strapping contracts Wilmington. Its payroll increased 30% in the last four years. 2019 Rank: N/A 2019 Rank: 112 CEO: Charles DuBose Jr. CEO: Richard Swartzel Employees: 20 Employees: 70 118. Hissho Sushi 113. DMA Sales Charlotte Sushi bars and kiosks Tabor City 2019 Rank: 118 Auto-body parts supplier CEO: Dan Beem 2019 Rank: N/A Employees: 200 CEO: John Treece

Employees: 89 CREATIONS AND BATH OF MAJESTIC KITCHEN COURTESY PHOTO

56 BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA SPONSORED BY

Partnering to Build Middle Market Leaders Ridgemont Equity Partners is a Charlotte-based middle market private equity firm that has provided over $5 billion of buyout and growth capital to private companies and new business platforms since 1993. The principals of Ridgemont have a proven, industry-focused model to build distinctive middle market companies.

Industry Sectors and Investment Criteria

BUSINESS & INDUSTRIAL SERVICES ENERGY & SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY & TELECOM

Majority ownership or lead minority investor SIZE MILLION $ EQUITY Equity for organic or aquisition growth Up to 250 INVESTMENTS

Transactions involving full or partial liquidity in MILLION private companies or corporate divestitures $ TYPICAL 5-50 EBITDA New platforms backing experienced executives GEOGRAPHY in proven business models

For New Investment Opportunities, Contact the Origination and Capital Markets Team:

DONNY HARRISON Partner 704.944.0960 [email protected]

RIDGEMONTEP.COM KELLY LINEBERGER Principal 704.944.0935 [email protected]

SPONSORED SECTION