2010 Revenues: $2.7 million
5-year Annual Growth Rate: 31%
CEO: Jane Peters
Location: Portland, OR
About the business:
Research Into Action in Portland specializes in program evaluation and research for utilities and energy agencies. Founded in Jane Peters' basement in 1996, RIA's fortune tends to change with shifts in regulatory environmental policy. Until 2000, Peters was the company's sole employee, but she now employs 26 people. Living the firm's mission, roughly one-third of the RIA workforce bikes or takes public transit to work. And Peters credits the company's Portland, Ore. location for Research Into Action's high rate of retention.
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