Category: Industry News

CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2018 — SMS Assist has been named to the Forbes 2018 Cloud 100, the definitive list of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in collaboration with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures. This is the third consecutive year that SMS Assist, an innovative technology company that streamlines multisite property management, has earned the recognition.

Headquartered in Chicago, SMS Assist enhances how customers experience some of the nation’s biggest brands, streamlining dozens of facilities maintenance services with a network of more than 20,000 best-in-class contractors. The company’s technology platform offers real-time quality assurance and transparency across thousands of locations.

“Being named one of the world’s top cloud companies for three years in a row is an incredible honor, one made possible only through the tremendous work and vision of our team,” said Taylor Rhodes, CEO of SMS Assist. “We’ve always been focused on using technology to shake up our industry, and fully embracing the cloud is what’s gotten us here today. We look forward to pushing the technology — and our industry — even further.” 

As part of the rigorous selection process for the Forbes 2018 Cloud 100, Bessemer Venture Partners received submissions from the top cloud startups. The Forbes Cloud 100 judging panel, including top public cloud company CEOs, reviewed the data to select, score and rank the top 100 cloud companies from all over the world. The evaluation process involved four factors: market leadership (35%), estimated valuation (30%), operating metrics (20%) and people and culture (15%).

“For the past three years, the Cloud 100 list has identified the top cloud companies that are reshaping their respective industries,” said Alex Konrad, Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. “I am consistently impressed by the caliber of companies honored on the Cloud 100 list. It is an exciting time to be a cloud company and founder.”

 “The 2018 Cloud 100 represents well over $135 billion in private shareholder value — an astonishing figure that reminds us yet again of the power of the cloud,” said Byron Deeter, a top cloud investor and partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. “The way we do business will be dramatically different as a result of these companies, and I am honored to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the founders and teams behind each company on the 2018 Cloud 100.”

“The business opportunity for cloud companies is tremendous today as capital investment, customer demand and rate of adoption continues to grow,” said Matt Garratt, managing partner, Salesforce Ventures. “We’re excited to see the potential of these companies and look forward to seeing what innovative technology they deliver around the world.”

Each year the CEOs of the Cloud 100 and the 20 Rising Stars companies are honored at the exclusive Cloud 100 Celebration hosted by Bessemer Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures and Forbes.

The Forbes 2018 Cloud 100 and 20 Rising Stars lists are published online at www.forbes.com/cloud100 and will appear in the September 2018 issue of Forbes magazine.

About SMS Assist

SMS Assist is a Chicago-based technology company providing multisite property management to a roster of Fortune 500 clients with a team of more than 800 dedicated employees and more than 186,000 service locations. Using its proprietary software platform to manage its network of more than 20,000 affiliate subcontractors, SMS Assist offers a suite of property management benefits including leveraged pricing of products and services, a $50 million insurance policy, real-time services validation, instant invoicing, automatic service audits, and data analysis to ensure quality and cost efficiency. SMS Assist is revolutionizing multisite property management services for clients including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORLY) and Invitation Homes Inc. (NYSE: INVH). To learn more, visit smsassist.com.

Disruptive company strengthens workforce, customer service with expansion to suburban Naperville

CHICAGO, September 5, 2018 — SMS Assist, one of Chicago’s fastest-growing technology companies, today announced a major expansion with the opening of a second area office in suburban Naperville.

The expansion will allow SMS Assist, headquartered in downtown Chicago, to accelerate investments in its industry-leading workforce and business solutions, which bring efficiency to multisite property management. The company, which plans to build out the new office initially with dozens of customer service roles, has a global workforce of more than 800 employees.

“Our success is driven by our people,” said Taylor Rhodes, SMS Assist’s CEO. “They’re the reason we’re here today. This new office allows us to continue creating opportunities for the team while also strengthening what’s already the best customer service in the industry.”

SMS Assist, recognized for its internal talent development programs, chose Naperville for the new office because of the city’s strong business environment and highly skilled workforce. Naperville, with numerous colleges and top-ranked school districts, is regularly rated as one of the most educated, best places to live in the country.

The new office, which features free covered parking, an on-site gym, building food court and dedicated training space, will allow the company to accommodate up to 400 employees. The hiring process is already underway, with job descriptions available online.

SMS Assist enhances how customers experience some of the nation’s biggest brands, streamlining dozens of facilities maintenance services with best-in-class contractors. The company’s technology platform offers real-time quality assurance and transparency across thousands of locations simultaneously.

For two years running, SMS Assist has earned a spot on the Forbes World’s Best 100 Cloud Companies list.

About SMS Assist

SMS Assist is a Chicago-based technology company providing multisite property management to a roster of Fortune 500 clients with a team of more than 800 dedicated employees and more than 186,000 service locations. Using its proprietary software platform to manage its network of more than 20,000 affiliate subcontractors, SMS Assist offers a suite of property management benefits including leveraged pricing of products and services, $50 million insurance policy, real-time services validation, instant invoicing, automatic service audits, and data analysis to ensure quality and cost efficiency. SMS Assist is revolutionizing multisite property management services for clients including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORLY) and Invitation Homes Inc. (NYSE: INVH). To learn more, visit smsassist.com.

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DEWITT, Mich. (August 30, 2018) There’s a reason Crain’s Detroit Business named DENTCO® one of their Cool Places to Work. Every year, this national company brings everyone together for a week of spirited events that boosts esprit de corps and delivers thousands of dollars to charities in need. 
 

According to DENTCO’s President, Scott Milnes, the annual DENTCO Spirit Week and the camaraderie it builds is only a part of what makes the first Exterior Services Management® (ESM®) Company such a desirable place to work. To pull off the most anticipated week each year, a team of volunteers spearhead the committee that selects the theme. This year DENTCO went “Back to School” and transformed the entire corporate headquarters to include a school library, faculty offices, locker rooms and more!

 

“The team really enjoys decorating the office and each year it seems to get more and more creative” says Milnes.

 

In addition to the fun and games, the DENTCO Quality Service Team gets a chance to learn about the latest industry trends through several training sessions. This year, two Michigan State University Horticulture Professors were brought in to train the team on the topic of weeds and pruning; a big part of nationwide landscaping services for some the world’s largest retail brands.

 

Every year a subcommittee selects several non-profit organizations and donations are collected throughout the week from employees during planned events such as: a pop can drive, 50/50 drawing, (this year the winner gave it all back), silent auctions, a photo booth and even a baby photo guessing contest.

 

“We believe in giving back to our community, we’re all in this together and that extends beyond the walls of our organization,” says Teresa Phelps, National Sales Director for DENTCO.

 

This year’s chosen organizations will each get an equal share in thousands raised by the DENTCO team. The charities include:

 

Lansing City Rescue Mission
The City Rescue Mission of Lansing was founded in 1911. As the largest shelter in Michigan’s capital area, they provide shelter to 140 women, children and men every night and serve about 100,000 meals every year. For more information: http://bearescuer.com  

 

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs
Since 2010, Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs has trained medical service dogs to mitigate the challenges associated with several disabilities, including: PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Traumatic Brain Injury, seizure disorders, glucose imbalance, mobility issues and more. Guardian Angels is proud to have paired more than 200 individually trained medical service dogs with deserving recipients with no recipient ever being charged for their service dog. For more information: http://www.medicalservicedogs.org

 

Bikers for Books
Bikers for Books is a network of bikers and other reading enthusiasts working together to raise reading awareness.  B4B works diligently to raise awareness and promote literacy by establishing a presence in the community and networking with others to do the same. For more information: http://bikersforbooks.com

 

The House of Promise
Human trafficking is a major issue in the world, with not enough being done to fight it or help its victims. Our goal is to disrupt the destructive patterns of slavery through education and care for the survivors. We do this through training, counseling, and helping the young girls/women relearn basic skills, so that they can rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society. For more information: http://www.thehouseofpromise.com

 

According to Phelps, the DENTCO team got to relive their old memories of school, and in addition to these great charities, many team members with teachers in their families got to hand-deliver donated classroom items to local schools in need.

 

About DENTCO
DENTCO is the first Exterior Services Management Company in the United States.  With over 41 years of experience with retail store and facility exteriors, they offer online portfolio management for snow and ice control, parking lot maintenance, landscape management, dark store management and various other ESM® needs.  Visit them at dentco.com or call (800) 993-3689.  

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Contracting Business magazine has recognized Alpine Mechanical Services, LLC as a Commercial HVAC Contractor of Excellence. This distinction was featured in their August 2018 issue. Alpine’s fusion of advanced equipment knowledge, high level of communication and well-respected service in the HVAC industry has proven to be a successful combination since its founding in 2003.

The feature spotlights Alpine’s forward-thinking owner and President, Mark Barraclough, his secret to Alpine’s success and the future plans for expansion.

Alpine Mechanical Services is a leading, self-performing HVAC service and maintenance provider serving commercial and retail properties across the East Coast. From the management team with over 150 years combined experience to highly trained field and administrative staff, the Alpine team is committed to providing clients with a quality of service unsurpassed in the HVAC industry.

Learn more at www.alpinems.com.

Inc. magazine today revealed that Branded Group is No. 311 on its 37th annual Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

“It is an honor to be included in the 2018 Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies,” Michael Kurland, Branded Group CEO, said. “Our exponential year-over-year growth is attributed to the dedication of our #BeBetter team and the loyalty of our customers. We celebrate this achievement together, and know that we are in good company. I extend a sincere congratulations to this year’s 5000 fastest growing companies.” 

Not only have the companies on the 2018 Inc. 5000 (which are listed online at Inc.com, with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 15) been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists. The 2018 Inc. 5000 achieved an astounding three-year average growth of 538.2 percent, and a median rate of 171.8 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $206.1 billion in 2017, accounting for 664,095 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

 “If your company is on the Inc. 5000, it’s unparalleled recognition of your years of hard work and sacrifice,” says Inc. editor in chief James Ledbetter. “The lines of business may come and go, or come and stay. What doesn’t change is the way entrepreneurs create and accelerate the forces that shape our lives.”

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held October 17 to 19, 2018 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort, in San Antonio, Texas. As always, speakers include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.

For more information about Branded Group, contact Michael Kurland at mkurland@branded-group.com.