SLO company among nation's fastest growing
Sunday December 2nd, 2007 - 3:35:19 am
Dan Reddell Email
Sunday, Dec 2, 2007
Posted on Sun, Dec. 02, 2007
The Follow-Up File: SLO company among nation’s fastest growing
Name: Cliff Henley Job: Chief executive officer Business: Fleet Management Solutions
What he said then: When The Tribune talked with Cliff Henley more than a year ago, the San Luis Obispo man was
actively running his global tracking device business, Fleet Management Solutions.
His technology firm’s products allowed their clients to pinpoint the location of their assets via satellite and monitor.
Henley, who founded the San Luis Obispo-based company in 2002, had about 400 clients, including the U.S. government and international organizations. It had satellite offices across North America, distributors in more than 40 countries and 18 employees locally.
Annual revenues in 2006 were estimated at $3.5 million, and Henley expected 2007 revenues could reach more than $5.2 million.
What he says now: Fleet Management Solutions continues to grow.
The company has increased its number of employees from 18 to 32 and plans to hire 10 additional employees in the first half 2008.
Annual revenues should exceed $5 million in 2007, and 2008 should see 65 percent growth over 2007, Henley said.
“It’s been just crazy,” he said. “We moved into new facilities. We’re up to 7,000 square feet.”
The company has gained contracts from governmental agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It now also has a contract with the city of San Luis Obispo.
The firm was honored in September when it made Inc. Magazine’s top-500 list of the fastest-growing companies in America. The firm was the only local company to make the list, ranking No. 232 based on revenue growth from 2003 to 2006.
“I think it’s great for the county as it gave us a lot of national recognition,” he said. “I’d like to see more tech companies in this area.”
The company has since begun manufacturing some of its own products and uses local vendors whenever possible. Fleet Management has received more support from local financial institutions—a change Henley appreciates after complaining that local banks support mostly real estate and agriculture, rather than technology.
“We’ve been working really hard, and I joke that I promise I’ll take a vacation next year,” he said. “We’re just going to continue to grow.”
—Dawn White

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