ANDERSON — Three Anderson companies were named to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s “Companies to Watch” list Tuesday.

IPower Energy Systems, Unified Group Services and Bright Automotive were honored as three of 50 Indiana companies to make the list out of 500 applicants.

“It’s a fantastic honor,” said IPower President Terry Pahls. “We’re really happy to be in that group, and we’re happy that we’re being recognized for what we think is going to be a very significant success going forward.”

IPower develops and manufactures alternative energy generators. Unified Group Services is a third-party insurance administrator, and Bright Automotive recently unveiled its Bright Idea, a 100-mile-per-gallon utility van.

The Companies to Watch are chosen based on factors such as their growth potential, hiring plans and revenue, said IEDC spokeswoman Blair West.

“They’re involved in different innovations that are not only making statewide news but making national news, so it’s not only newsworthy but it qualifies them as a company to watch,” she said. “There are compelling research and development and specific business opportunities that are interesting to people in Indiana and outside of Indiana as well.

“There are breakthroughs that happen in our very own community that go unnoticed.”

Pahls said his company was nominated for the award by three or four different entities and he found out at the end of June that IPower would be on the list.

“I wouldn’t say it was surprising because I think we have some outstanding things going on at IPower that are pretty noteworthy,” he said. “We’re going against 500 companies in Indiana, and to be picked in the top 50 is pretty significant and we’re quite proud.”

Unified Group Services President and CEO Rich Mousty said his company’s unique approach to service helped it achieve the status of a “Company to Watch.”

“It was our unique way we developed our company and positioned ourselves in a demanding marketplace and industry,” he said. “Our unique set of services puts us in a position to continue to grow and provide valuable and certainly outstanding service in our industry.”

Mousty said it was Unified’s 110 employees who allowed the company to be placed on the second annual “Companies to Watch” list.

“We wouldn’t be in this position and be able to continue to reposition ourselves to get these kinds of awards if it wasn’t for our people being committed to servicing our customers and buying into the vision,” Mousty said. “It’s nice to see people out there recognizing that for our achievements and what we hope to achieve in the future.”

The “Companies to Watch” list is presented by the IEDC, its Small Business Development Center network, Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation. It recognizes the state’s privately-held businesses that employ up to 150 people and have between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue or working capital.

This year’s 50 chosen companies project combined revenues of more than $671 million and 560 jobs created this year.

All three Anderson companies on the list were somehow related to the city’s Flagship Enterprise Center. Bright Automotive still is located there, while IPower had a relationship with the incubator and Unified maintained office space there while its new offices were being built.

“These companies are sophisticated enough that they haven’t needed much of our help,” said Flagship Executive Director DeWayne Landwehr. “We are proud of (IPower and Bright) because they haven’t required a lot of those resources.”

Landwehr said three Anderson companies being named to the “Companies to Watch” list shines a bright light on the city.

“I’m so happy for Anderson,” he said. “The whole city has heard several negative things and we’ve obviously gone through some very difficult times.

“That’s what I’m here for every day is hoping that Anderson can come back, and these guys are doing it.”

Pahls credited Anderson’s own efforts in bringing it back after General Motors left town several years ago.

“It’s particularly noteworthy that we’re not necessarily seeking help from others in that rebirth,” he said. “It continues the trend in Anderson of Anderson being a great city to do business in, and this just further validates that Anderson is not a dying community.

“It may end up becoming Anderson’s third industrial revolution.”

Indiana’s “Companies to Watch” will be honored at an Aug. 27 ceremony at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. IPower will be one of nine companies featured in a video at the ceremony.

Mousty said that, while the award indicated his company was on the right track, it would take hard work to remain that way.

“We don’t rest on our laurels,” he said. “We’ve positioned our company and continue to try to position ourselves to always be a company to watch.”



Contact Aleasha Sandley: 640-4805, aleasha.sandley@heraldbulletin.com.



Indiana’s 50 “Companies to Watch” came from 23 cities and towns:

Indianapolis: 19

Anderson: 3

Carmel: 3

West Lafayette: 3

Bluffton: 2

Valparaiso: 2

Warsaw: 2

Bloomington: 1

Brownsburg: 1

Elkhart: 1

Fishers: 1

Fort Wayne: 1

Greenville: 1

Greenwood: 1

Lafayette: 1

LaPorte: 1

Merrillville: 1

Mishawaka: 1

Nappanee: 1

Noblesville: 1

South Bend: 1

Vincennes: 1

Wakarusa: 1