Small businesses play a central role in employment generation but are often ignored because they are after all, small! The value and role played by the New generation of small business in propping the global economy cannot be underestimated. The New Gen small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have a considerable impact on the U.S., and indeed the global economy.

For instance, a popular Business Magazine estimates that around 25 million and 27 million New Generation small businesses account for 60 to 80 per cent of all jobs in the United States. And it just doesn't end there; these businesses even register more patents than larger firms! Little wonder thus that governments word over recognize the value of New Gen small business and have put in place measures to support them.

Perhaps the problem could be governments are not doing enough to support SMEs! But regardless, there are New Gen small businesses that have distinguished themselves as leaders in their respective industries.

Here is a list of the top new generation companies with big impacts!

1. Medifast, Inc.

Medifast is a portion-controlled, nutritionally balanced, low-fat, and clinically proven program that helps people lose weight faster and more effectively than traditional diet plans. Medifast Meals come in individual packets that you mix with water and microwave or refrigerate, and are available in a wide variety of foods and flavors, including shakes, soups, stew, chili, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fruit drinks and more. They are not only quick and easy to prepare, but they also offer a healthy fast food alternative to a busy lifestyle!

Medifast is ranked as number one in America's 100 best small companies. The company produces, distributes and sells weight management and disease management products. The company also sells health and diet products. Medifast had reached a mark of US$218 million in sales for 2011, registering a sales growth of 41 per cent. Its Earnings per share grew by an impressive 35 per cent and its ROE stood at 17 per cent.

2. InterDigital

InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. As a long-standing contributor to the evolution of the wireless industry, they solve many of the industry's most critical and complex technical challenges years ahead of market deployment.

According to a recent survey, InterDigital comes second as America's best 100 New Generation companies. InterDigital, Inc. is a designer and developer of advanced digital wireless technology solutions. The company achieved a sales target of US$359 million in 2011, marking a growth of 17 per cent. Its earnings per share grew by 149 per cent, with an ROE standing at 48 per cent. InterDigital has distinguished itself as a world leading developer of fundamental wireless technologies that are central to the use of mobile devices, networks and services globally.

3. Deckers Outdoor

Deckers Outdoor finds and builds niche brands into global lifestyle leaders through innovative design and marketing. From fashion-oriented to outdoor, athletic to casual, their brands meet the specific needs of different groups, activities, jobs and individuals. Angel Martinez, CEO at Deckers Outdoor believes that by paying attention to vision and culture, Deckers has created a highly engaged workforce that encourages people to reach their potential and push hard to achieve a competitive advantage.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation is ranked as one of the most promising small companies in America. The company is involved in the design, production, marketing and brand manager of innovative, high-quality footwear and accessories. With sales almost clocking the billion mark; Deckers Outdoor distinguishes itself as one of the most popular small businesses. The company earned sales revenue of US$869 million, with a growth of 33 per cent. According to a business Magazine, Deckers Outdoor had earning per share growth of 35 per cent and ROE of 22 per cent.

4. NutriSystem

NutriSystem ranks in the list of America's 100 most popular New Generation small businesses of 2011 with a sales revenue of US$534 million. The company is a leading light in the provision of a weight management system based on a portion-controlled, prepared meal program.

NutriSystem experienced sales growth of 63 per cent in 2011, with earnings per share growth pegged at 73 per cent and ROE of 51 per cent. Nutrisystem's mission is to provide a weight loss program based on quality foods and a nutritionally balanced meal plan; individualized counseling is the core of their commitment that customers always have the privacy, support and knowledge needed to reach their goal weight.

5. WebMD Health Corporation

The WebMD Health Corp. also takes its rightful place in the list and can rightfully fit into the list of most popular New Gen companies. The company offers health information services to consumers, physicians and other healthcare practitioners. Its services are also handy for other groups such as employers. The company also provides health plans via its public and private online portals and health focused publications. WebMD Health Corp. crossed a sales mark of US$480 million in 2011, with a sales growth pegged at 28 per cent. Its earnings per share growth stood at 103 per cent and an ROE of 21 per cent.

6. American Public Education, Inc.

The American Public Education Inc. ranks as one of the most promising New businesses in America with 2011 sales crossing US$174 million. The company is one of the leading small providers of online post-secondary education. However, unlike other online post secondary education portals, the American Public Education Inc. primarily deals with the military and public service communities. The company sales reached US$149 million, with overall growth of 49 per cent. Its earnings per share growth stood at 47 per cent, with an ROE of 28 per cent.

7. Akamai Technologies, Inc.

Akamai Technologies, Inc. is ranked as one of America's best top 100 small companies with 2011 sales of US$930 million. Akamai Technologies, Inc is identified as a provider of services for accelerating & improving the delivery of content and applications over the Internet from live and on-demand streaming videos to conventional content on web pages to tools that help people transact business. The company had sales growth of 35 per cent in 2011, with earnings per share growth of 9 per cent. Its 2011 ROE was pegged at 27 per cent.

8. VSE Corporation

The VSE Corporation takes its rightful place in America's list of 100 best small companies with 2011 sales of US$960 million. The VSE Corporation offers program management, logistics, engineering, IT, construction program, and consulting services to the government, other government prime contractors, and commercial entities. The company had 2011 sales growth pegged at 42 per cent with earnings per share growth of 45 per cent and ROE of 26 per cent.

9. FrescoData

FrescoData is without a doubt the world's foremost email lists and marketing lists company and is rightfully listed in 100 best New Gen countries. It is a provider of top quality email lists of business contacts globally. The company has distinguished itself as a provider of the world's most complete, accurate and up-to-date business contacts and company data. The company offers email lists of top quality business decision makers, CEO Email lists and executives' management lists. The company is a specialty provider of Email lists of Senior Executives and 'C' level Management Email Lists.

Douglas Sacks, Vice President-Strategic Planning at Frescodata.com comes with a plethora of experience in the Database Industry. He believes that today's leaders feel the need to improve their capabilities to lead their firms by example. He focuses on developing the leadership of top executives using innovative global marketing strategies for all round development of revenue streams. A few approaches he suggests are: generation and proper usage of quality leads, maintenance of clients' data using new age techniques and resources, the importance of up-selling in Business retention, Data exploitation post cross vertical and cross sectoral diversification, etc.

10. F5 Networks, Inc.

The F5 Networks is a provider of technology essential in the optimization of the delivery of network-based applications and the security, performance and availability of servers, data storage devices and other network resources. The company had 2011 sales of US$803 million, with a sales growth of 31 per cent and earnings per share growth of 17 per cent. F5 technology has an ability to adapt to their client's unique network architecture and mix of applications. Their products can handle a wide variety of environments; they offer many different training and support options to fit a particular situation.

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