Whether hardware or hardcore, list reflects diverse economy.

1. David Lewis Co. Executive Placement Two-Year Growth: 9,126 percent

DAVID Lewis was bred on the traditional methods of recruiting.

His father owned a financial recruiting firm and after working in the family business for six years, Lewis left to found David Lewis Co., a one-man executive financial recruitment firm, in 1993.

But while working to fill positions with the most qualified candidates, he realized that corporations were changing too fast to rely on the old ways.

"Most financial executives look at an organizational chart and think if they can fill all the boxes with the right people the company will move to a static state of everlasting happiness," said Lewis, who holds a master's degree in international economics from Georgetown University. "But the static model doesn't work anymore."

Lewis saw that people were changing jobs every three to four years, and that companies are never fully staffed. He also saw demand for project-based hiring and in 1998, he revamped his Woodland Hills-based company to focus on project-based financial consulting.

"There's a 50- to 60-year business trend toward 'projectizing' work and we're riding that trend," Lewis said.

Lewis built his recruiting business primarily through cold calls and the occasional referral. When he re-focused on consulting, many of his recruiting contacts came along and used his consulting services. When client contacts moved to different companies, they would go back to him with new requests.

A typical project will come up when, say, a company's controller leaves. Lewis examines the position to see what the highest priorities are--tax statements vs. administration, for example. Then he identifies someone on his staff with the right experience, abilities and availability. There's a meeting with the client to make sure that the fit is right, and work commences.

With 2003 revenues projected around $8 million, Lewis says his biggest challenge is maintaining the infrastructure to support rampant growth. His company has deployed consultants in health care, music, entertainment, food, real estate and agriculture. Current and former clients include Nestle USA, Walt Disney Co. and ConAgra Foods Inc.

Unlike many consulting firms, Lewis' employees are on salary and not paid on a per-project basis. All have experience at Big 4 accounting firms or in Fortune 1,000 companies.

"We want our employees to focus on taking care of our clients, not worrying about whether they'll get pulled from a project before the work is done," he said.

Lewis didn't begin marketing his firm until this year, though the company has recently launched a new Web site and created an internal marketing department.

His next goal is to double the number of consultants he employs and expand into 10 new metropolitan markets within five years. "It's not just about hiring good people and finding work every day," he said. "It's trying to help clients change their view of how to organize and execute the work they have."

--Simone Kaplan

3. Ironclad Performance Wear Corp. Glove Manufacturer Growth: 486.7 percent

WHEN Ed Jaeger helped remodel the home of a friend, he had no idea it would be the start of a $7 million-a-year business. "By the end of the first day my hands were thrashed," he remembered.

Jaeger also remembered something else: that the subcontractors--all doing different jobs--were using the same poorly fitting canvas gloves that he wore. "I looked at my friend and said, 'I've got it. This is the next idea,'" he remembered.

That idea--to make a glove that provides task-specific hand protection--remains the cornerstone of four-year-old Ironclad Performance Wear.

Calling itself a "technology company that makes gloves," the company uses breathable, flexible materials to make gloves that fit well and stand up to harsh working conditions.

Starting with $25,000 raised from family and friends, Jaeger put an industrial designer to work making 3-D drawings. Then he found an Asian manufacturer to make samples. Less than a year after initial drawings, Ironclad was ready to enter the market with four glove styles.

Numerous wade show appearances in 1999 led to the first serious cash infusion that allowed him to expand production. "It was an angel focused on startups," Jaeger said. "It gave us $700,000."

Now nearly 10,000 retail outlets carry Ironclad, which has 16 different product lines. The biggest seller is the Heavy Utility Glove, used for heavy manual labor, followed closely by the Subzero, for work in cold climates.

Ironclad also runs focus groups, sends out surveys and tests new products in its research and development lab--all of which helps explain why these gloves are pricier than typical canvas work gloves that go for around $5 a pair.

"When I started, people told me no one would buy a $25 work glove," said Jaeger. "They were wrong."

--Daniela Drake

9. Schecter Guitar Research Custom and Mass Market Guitars Two-Year Growth: 231.8 percent

AT Schecter Guitar Research the key to success has been simple: combine low-cost Asian production with good old American quality.

Schecter designs its own models and has most of them manufactured in Inchon, Korea, putting on the finishing touches at its offices and warehouse in Burbank.

The result, the company claims, are guitars priced as low as $500 that are defect-free and comparable to domestics costing three times as much. "We put a lot of quality research into the guitar," said J.P. Simoes, Schecter's vice president. "It's what a player wants."

Revenues hit $7.3 million last year, jumping 231.8 percent since 2000 when they were $2.2 million. The company is looking to hit $11 million in sales this year.

And it's also got an impressive roster of musicians playing its Korean-made Diamond series guitars, including Jerry Horton of Papa Roach and notorious rocker Tommy Lee, a guitarist better known as the drummer for Motley Crue.

Musician Dave Schecter founded the company in 1976 largely as a manufacturer of custom guitar components, such as the pickups that capture the sound of vibrating strings and turn them into electric signals.

Schecter sold out in 1984 to a Dallas-based firm that tried to take the line mass market. The effort faltered, and the business was purchased by Japanese investor and guitar enthusiast Hisatake Shibuya three years later. The custom designs proved so popular that in 1998 Schecter launched its lower-priced Diamond series, which has set it on a recent growth spurt.

The company still manufactures hand-made guitars that sell for as much as $5,000, but its Diamond series, with prices ranging from $500 to about $1,000, accounts for most of the 2,600 units shipped to retailers each month.

At all price levels, guitars are manufactured with quality hardwood and high-end components. When the guitars arrive from Asia, they go through a final set up--filing down the frets, making sure the intonation is perfect and other adjustments.

The company also has made a name for itself with some over-the-top marketing with ads in guitar publications featuring scantily clad women and guns. "We are a true rock n' roll guitar company," Simoes said.

--Laurence Darmiento

11. Ventura Distribution inc. Home Video Distribution Two-Year Growth: 203.3 percent

FROM its start as an entertainment marketing firm a decade ago, Ventura Distribution Inc. has become one of the largest DVD and VHS distribution companies in the industry, with projected 2003 revenues of $82 million.

How? By learning to grab growth opportunities when they present themselves.

Larry Hayes started the company in 1993 following a 21-year career as a sales and marketing executive in the music industry. After working for companies including Windham Hill Records, RCA Records and A&M Records, Hayes, who is chief executive, saw an opportunity in the emerging "sell-through" video market.

At the time, retailers like Kmart or WalMart were buying movies on VHS from rental distributors whose main business was selling major studio releases to rental shops. There was no distribution conduit that focused solely on the retail market, and no direct sales channel for independent films.

"Independent producers had to choose between going through rental distributors, who were not familiar with the retail market as it was, or creating ad-hoc partnerships with major studios for distribution," said Scott Palladino, Ventura's chief financial officer. "The retail chains needed a umbrella distributor to handle non-rental studio and independent inventory, and the producers needed a more efficient and cost-effective way to get their product into stores."

Within three years, Ventura Marketing became Ventura Distribution and the company had moved into a 4,000-square-foot warehouse in the San Fernando Valley. Hayes was moving video inventory for customers like Tower Records and Wherehouse Music. Then, another opportunity: As the DVD movie format reached popularity, Hayes saw a chance to open his retail distribution channels to studios that wanted to market movies on DVD to consumers.

"It was great timing because DVDs are priced to move in the retail market, and people don't rent DVDs as much as VHS, so we were able to partner with some major brands to get their labels to market," Palladino said. "We had the existing relationships and warehouses."

Today, Ventura Distribution sells and markets more than 5,000 movie titles for partners that include TimeLife Video, BET Video, Showtime and Fox Sports Net.

The company has added 40 employees over the past 12 months, and later this year it is moving into a new 75,000-square-foot facility in Thousand Oaks. Ventura Transfer has also established three in-house labels, UrbanWorks Entertainment, StudioWorks Entertainment and Studio Latino, for distribution of in-house programming aimed at the Latino, African-American and children's markets.

--Simone Kaplan

17. Pathnet Esoteric Laboratory Human Pathology Testing Two-Year Growth: 143.6 percent

ALAN Kaye subscribes to the theory that smaller can indeed be better.

"There's such a thing as diseconomies of scale," said the president of Pathnet Esoteric Laboratory Institute in Van Nuys. "If you get too large, like some of our competitors, customer service goes down."

Pathnet provides laboratory services for women's health care providers, testing for cancer and sexually transmitted diseases. Revenues have already topped $12.5 million thus far in 2003, up from $3.9 million in 2000.

Kaye traces the most rapid period of growth to early 2001, when the sales staff was expanded and the menu of services broadened to include new testing techniques such as screening for human papilloma virus, the venereal disease that Kaye said has been found to cause cervical cancer.

Kaye's client base now includes more than 900 private health clinics, non-profits, state and county family planning agencies and Planned Parenthood Federation of America clinics, which Kaye said carries out about 5 percent of all cervical cancer screenings in the U.S.

One of the keys to Pathnet's growth has been to specialize on the women's health niche and reaching poor and underserved populations. Though the company has grown quickly, Kaye says it's stayed small enough to emphasize customer service.

Kaye and his wife Randi founded Pathnet after cashing in their 401(k) plans, securing a Small Business Administration loan and taking out a home equity loan in 1996. Nine months later, Kaye took a risk and acquired another testing company's client list.

"We raised the prices they were offering for their testing right away," Kaye said. "We knew there would be attrition, but we calculated that the raised prices would more than compensate for it."

Within a year, Pathnet moved from the Kayes' garage to a 25-person operation in a 1,500-square-foot office. By 1998, the company was turning a profit.

The Kayes also took advantage of tax credits offered through a City of Los Angeles zoning initiative to encourage job creation in languishing areas. They eventually expanded to 13,500 square feet by knocking out walls and remodeling adjacent offices.

Pathnet's early success was followed by a setback that shook Kaye's faith in his mission so badly he almost quit. In 1998, Randi--who had never smoked--was diagnosed with lung cancer and died three years later.

"Here we were in the business of fighting cancer, and my wife is dying of cancer and there's nothing I could do about it," he said. "While we'd been growing all this time, I was on the edge, operating in a sort of fog."

In the next 18 months, Kaye plans to make three more acquisitions of human pathology testing laboratories with revenues in the $1 million to $5 million range.

"We will need to go to the financial markets for that, which I've been avoiding," Kaye said. "I don't want to lose control of the company, so we're going into it very, very carefully."

--Matt Myerhoff

19. Disc Marketing Inc. Audio, Visual and Interactive Marketing Two-Year Growth: 128.6 percent

IT'S only fitting that Disc Marketing Inc. began from a cue given by the music industry.

Tena Clark, chief executive of the Pasadena-based interactive marketing agency, was a songwriter and producer who co-founded Primal Records, a label distributed by EMI Group, when she watched the Internet boom take off.

Concerned that the music industry was not taking advantage of the medium as a marketing and promotional tool, she left the label and formed Disc Marketing in 1997.

While Clark has stuck to her musical background by writing and recording music for television and film, the business has grown into six divisions, ranging from recording studio and music publishing to its most rapidly growing sector: the creation of digital marketing products.

Its DMI Marketing Special Products group creates interactive ad campaigns that combine video, music and Internet links to promote a broad range of brands.

Clark's medium of choice for those campaigns is the "enhanced" CD--first used three years ago when United Airlines hired the company to create a CD that could guide customers to its Web site.

Only a year ago, Clark said enhanced CDs were a tough sell. Now, about half the clients request them as part of their ad campaigns, fueling the firm's rapid run-up in revenues.

Clients landed in the last year include General Mills Inc.'s Betty Crocker brand for a promotion during last year's holiday season. Its CD blended music, recipes, party ideas and video of vintage TV commercials. United and Coca-Cola Co. have used Disc Marketing's enhanced CDs for a joint marketing campaign targeted at college campuses that featured up-and-coming musicians.

Over the past year, Princess Cruises, Victoria's Secret and Mattel Inc. have also placed orders for enhanced CDs.

"It's up to us to convince them. There's no better way to create loyalty than through emotion and there's no better way to create emotion than through music," said Clark.

Disc Marketing's other divisions have proven strong contributors as well. They license songs and music cues for background use in the television, film and music industries. Another division, DMI Entertainment Programming, creates in-flight audio entertainment for United Airlines and has supplied in-flight programming for Air Force One and Air Force Two.

--Michael Thuresson

38. Pipedream Products Adult Toys Two-Year Growth: 63.5 percent

DAVID Feldman brings pleasure to customers, even in the worst of times.

His Canoga Park-based Pipedream Products enjoys a booming business selling adult-oriented girls and gags like edible underwear, high-tech vibrators and flavored body lotions. "Big ticket items like cars or boats fall off the radar during difficult times," Feldman said with a smile. "But everyone can afford $25 for a sexual toy."

Pipedream's growth story is no fantasy. Revenues are on track to surpass $26 million in 2003, from an inauspicious start in 1973 selling smoke paraphernalia to head shops. The last four years have been Pipedream's busiest ever, said Feldman, who is chief executive.

The company produces 150 to 200 new items annually, and sells to a network of U.S. and international distributors. "We import raw materials from overseas." Feldman said. "We do both design and manufacturing with a mostly minimum-wage workforce of 120 employees."

Pipedream's fastest growing area are private-label cosmetic lines like "Moist," which he says is produced in the company's lab. Gag gifts account for 50 percent of annual sales.

Feldman has had offers to take Pipedream public, but does not want to relinquish ownership. He's also reluctant to sell products via mail order or the company Web site, which he said would be "biting the hand that feeds us.

"We used to sell directly to retailers," Feldman said. "But it's much easier to fill a $20,000 order to a single distributor than sell piecemeal and track down payment."

Similarly, Pipedream doesn't have any retail stores because Feldman doesn't want to undercut his existing network of stores and distributors.

The company prides itself on identifying new markets. "One of our buyers in Virginia made more than $1 million last year through at-home parties," he said. "She draws on a network of sellers--women who don't feel comfortable going into an adult novelty store to create Tupperware parties for sex toys."

Pipedream's most expensive item? A 7-speed oscillating vibrator, with forward and reverse, that wholesales for $60. "It's called the Beyond 2000 GX4," Feldman said. "Our most popular selling item of all time is glow-in-the-dark foreplay dice. We've sold more than three million since we introduced it four years ago."

Pipedream's plans for further growth include repackaging its line of marital aids for placement with non-adult retailers, like mass-market drug store chains. While the sex-toy industry holds up well during recessions, Feldman cites relaxed standards in the media as a factor in fueling Pipedream's growth.

"In recent years it's become much more acceptable to promote and talk about sexuality," Feldman said. "I think that's allowed the adult industry to come out of the closet."

--David Geffner

40. Bryan A. Stirrat & Associates Environmental Engineering Two-Year Growth: 55.5 percent

BRYAN A. Stirrat & Associates has nestled itself deep into Southern California's landfills.

The Diamond Bar-based environmental engineering firm specializes in working with landfill operators--anything from designing landfill sites to building waste drainage systems to consulting site operators on environmental regulations and construction details.

"Landfill engineering includes not only assisting the operator with how they will put trash in the hole but also with the waste containment features that allow it to function without impacting the environment," said John Boucher, vice president of regulatory compliance at Bryan A. Stirrat.

The company has done business with landfills in Orange and San Bernardino counties. More recent growth is tied to increased business with Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Allied Waste Industries Inc., which operates several landfills in California and hired the company to design a system that removes potentially explosive methane gas. Stirrat uses plastic pipes to dig into the landfill, vacuum out the gas and transport it to a disposal station.

The company was founded in 1984 by Bryan Stirrat, a former engineer at the L.A. County Sanitation District, after BKK Corp. hired him to manage the closure, or "capping," of its hazardous waste landfill in West Covina. Capping landfills after they are full is one of the company's main services and involves sealing them in dirt and plastic to make sure water does not seep through.

The company also provides consulting services on the cleanup of industrial sites and civil engineering services to commercial real estate developers.

Other projects include helping San Bernardino County expand landfills in Rialto and Victorville, giving each an additional 30 million tons of waste storage space.

Such services, involving environmental impact consulting and construction quality assurance, have become essential with California's strict environmental laws and the premium on space in the state.

"Operators want to squeeze as much refuse capacity out of their facility as possible," Boucher said.

--Michael Thuresson

48. Aspen Education Group Inc. Specialized Educational Services Two-Year Growth: 44.5 percent

WHILE heading a company that provided mental health services, Elliot Sainer ran across a lot of kids who wound up being hospitalized.

Many, he believes, didn't have to be.

"Some needed to be there, others we felt could benefit from a less-costly alternative and an environment more conducive to learning," he said. "I realized this was an opportunity to take care of kids in a different way on a larger scale."

A decade later, Sainer left to co-found Aspen Education Group Inc., which provides special education services and programs for children and teens having trouble in mainstream educational systems.

Backed by three venture capital firms--Sprout Group, Warburg Pincus and Frazier Healthcare Ventures, each of which took a 25 percent stake in the business--Aspen has expanded rapidly. Since 2000, its revenues have increased by 44.5 percent and based on its performance through the first half of 2003, it is on track to break $100 million in revenues for the year.

"There's been a lot of demand for our services," Sainer said. "With a lot of kids and families in trouble, there's no shortage of need."

Aspen, he said, has helped fill the needs of financially strapped counties that tap the company's community services division, which provides treatment and preventative services for at-risk children.

The company operates 46 programs in California and 10 other states. It is made up of four divisions: wilderness/outdoors programs, residential schools, special education day schools and community services.

"Each program site has its own distinct identity and the company as a whole operates in a very decentralized manner, allowing programs to vary in length and specialization," Sainer said.

Nearly half of Aspen's business comes from residential schools, which offer programs ranging from six months to two years. Both the residential schools and wilderness programs are private-pay programs with tuition ranging from $6,700 to $63,000 annually, accounting for 70 percent of annual revenues.

At the end of the month, Aspen plans to open its first residential school in California, just outside of Fresno, and three additional schools are scheduled to open in the next nine months. Sainer expects Aspen's growth to continue at its current rate through a combination of new schools, expansion of existing programs and other acquisitions.

--Janna Braun

57. Chef Merito Inc. Specialty Foods Manufacturer Two-Year Growth: 37.8 percent

THE story of Chef Merito Inc. is one of a local boy made good.

Founder, President and. Chief Executive Plinio Garcia Jr. started the company (whose name means "little authentic chef") in his father's Chatsworth garage in 1985, after graduating from UCLA and getting an MBA from Pepperdine University.

"This all began as my father's hobby," Garcia told The San Fernando Valley Business Journal last March. "He loved to cook and make these huge jars of seasonings and special sauces for the meat we would eat for dinner and family gatherings."

From humble beginnings, Garcia has carved out a multi-million dollar niche in the specialty food industry, manufacturing Latin American seasonings, spices and specialty foods with an employee roster that has nearly tripled in the last three years, to 63.

Revenues for Chef Merito have climbed steadily as well. The $7 million logged during the first half of 2003 puts the company on track to break through Garcia's goal of $10 million. in 2000, revenues were $4.5 million.

Several years studying food import/export practices in Brazil convinced Garcia that he was ready to put his family recipes--and his father's knack for industrial preparations--to the test.

"I said, 'OK, I can go into financial planning or something along those lines, or I can become an entrepreneur and help my father,'" Garcia said. "I decided to become an entrepreneur and not too long after that we went to Sears and bought a concrete mixer and began making more and more products from our garage."

Today the Garcia family manufactures 140 products under the brand names Chef Merito, Sabrosito and Pikos Pikosos.

To help cooks navigate the ins and outs of Latin-American foods, the company has compiled a food encyclopedia on its Web site. Entries answer questions such as why black pepper is a spice (it's ground from a vine-grown berry).

For Chef Merito, 2000 was a watershed year. The elder Garcia retired from the business and the company switched its product marketing in 2000, replacing outside vendors with an in-house sales team to gain a better overall handle on the brand.

"We've just stuck to our original plan, of marketing to the Hispanic markets," Garcia told the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. "With population figures on the rise, that's been a big payoff for us."

--David Geffner

The LIST

Rank  Company (Rank in 2002)    Percentage    Revenues      Employees
      * name                      Growth    (in millions)   * current
      * address                 in Revenue   * 2002 (1)      * 2000
                                2000-2002      * 2000       * percent
                                             * 2003 (2)    change 2000
                                                           to present

   1  David Lewis Co.            9,126.1%       $6.1           70
      6303 Owensmouth                           $0.1            1
      Ave., 10th Floor                          $4.4         6,900%
      Woodland Hills 91367

   2  CaseStack Inc.             9,024.1         5.9           49
      11755 Wilshire                             0.1           13
      Blvd., Suite 1880                          6.7          276.9
      Los Angeles 90025

   3  Ironclad                    486.7          7.2           23
      Performance Wear Corp.                     1.2            3
      12506 Beatrice St.                         NA           666.7
      Los Angeles 90066

   4  Insyght Interactive Inc.    363.8         10.5           15
      9100 Wilshire Blvd.,                       2.3           20
      East Tower, Suite 350                      2.7           -25
      Beverly Hills 90212

   5  Spenser                     344.7         17.8           62
      Communications Inc.                         4            30
      12806 Schabarum Ave.,                      8.2          106.7
      Unit A Irwindale 91706

   6  Platinum Capital (3)        306.9         41.3           352
      3500 Sepulveda                            10.2           138
      Blvd., Suite E                            22.9          155.1
      Manhattan Beach 90266

   7  United Storm Water Inc.     254.3          6.2           22
      14000 E. Valley Blvd.                      1.8           NA
      City of Industry 91746                     NA            NA

   8  Platinum Wireless Inc.      243.3         10.3           50
      10435 Santa Monica                          3            NA
      Blvd., Second Floor                        9.3           NA
      Los Angeles 90025

   9  Schecter Guitar Research    231.8          7.3           22
      1840 Valpreda St.                          2.2           11
      Burbank 91504                              4.1           100

  10  Ace Fence Co. (59)          217.8           8            58
      15135 Salt Lake Ave.                       2.5           35
      City of Industry 91746                     3.3          65.7

  11  Ventura                     203.3         79.4           142
      Distribution Inc.                         26.2           20
      770 Lawrence Drive                        41.8           610
      Thousand Oaks 91320

  12  American Apparel Inc.       171.4          38           1,350
      747 Warehouse St.                          14            400
      Los Angeles 90021                          35           237.5

  13  United Pacific               168          28.7           220
      Mortgage (11)                             10.7           89
      18425 Burbank Road,                       21.8          147.2
      Suite 622 Tarzana 91356

  14  Martin Bros./               163.3          79            450
      Marcowall Inc.                             30            700
      17104 S. Figueroa St.                      25           -35.7
      Gardena 90248

  15  M-Audio (45)                150.3         37.8           169
      45 E. Saint Joseph St.                    15.1           40
      Arcadia 91006                             22.9          322.5

  16  Support Services             150            6            150
      of America Inc.                            2.4           50
      12440 Firestone Blvd.,                     4.6           200
      Suite 312 Norwalk 90650

  17  Pathnet Esoteric            143.6          9.7           80
      Laboratory Institute                        4            35
      7247 Hayvenhurst Ave.,                     5.6          128.6
      Suite A3 Van Nuys 91406

  18  Innovative                  131.3         18.5           27
      Solutions Insurance                         8            15
      Services LLC (18)                         10.8           80
      19191 S. Vermont Ave.,
      Suite 825 Torrance 90502

  19  Disc Marketing              128.6          16            63
      35 W. Dayton St.                            7            40
      Pasadena 91105                             10           57.5

  20  CDSNet Inc. (21)            123.8         26.9           155
      3435 Wilshire                              12            93
      Blvd., Fourth Floor                       14.5          66.7
      Los Angeles 90010

  21  Madison Partners            114.9          6.1            8
      12121 Wilshire                             2.8           10
      Blvd., Suite 959                           5.6           -20
      Los Angeles 90025

  22  Norstar Office Products     114.8         39.2           60
      5353 Jillson St.                          18.3           20
      Commerce 90040                            25.8           200

  23  Micro Solutions             111.3          30            399
      Enterprises (7)                           14.2           165
      9111 Mason Ave.                           19.2          141.8
      Chatsworth 91311

  24  All Travel                  107.7          27            43
      2001 S. Barrington                         13            24
      Ave., Suite 315                            14           79.2
      Los Angeles 90025

  25  Medi Inc.                   107.1          9.8           72
      241 Lombard St.                            4.7           18
      Thousand Oaks 91360                        4.5           300

  26  Everse Corp.                104.4          9.2           61
      4751 Wilshire                              4.5           18
      Blvd., Second Floor                        6.2          238.9
      Los Angeles 90010

  27  Bernards Bros. Inc.         103.3          183           150
      610 Ilex St.                               90            103
      San Fernando 91340                         165          45.6

  28  Redbarn Pet Products         94.6         11.4           108
      2148 W. 16th St.                           5.9           16
      Long Beach 90813                           6.9           575

  29  Winspec West                 94.5          43            14
      Manufacturing Inc. (4)                    22.1            3
      20160 Paseo del Prado,                     NA           366.7
      Suite D Walnut 91789

  30  Larwin Co. (24)              92.9          81            44
      16633 Ventura                              42            28
      Blvd., Suite 1300                          50           57.1
      Encino 91436

  31  Born Again Clothing Inc.     92.8          5.7           46
      4949 District Blvd.                         3             8
      Vernon 90058                             8.9 (5)         475

  32  PeopleSupport Inc. (2)       86.9          20           1,518
      1100 Glendon                              10.7           362
      Ave., Suite 1250                           14           319.3
      Los Angeles 90024

  33  PAJO Networks                80.7          5.8           20
      700 Wilshire                               3.2           30
      Blvd., Sixth Floor                         3.2          33.3
      Los Angeles 90017

  34  Mobile Storage               77.4        149             470
      Group Inc. (19)                           84             265
      7590 N. Glenoaks Blvd.                    79            77.4
      Burbank 91504

  35  STA Travel Inc. (62)         74.9          268           509
      5900 Wilshire                             153.2          NA
      Blvd., Suite 900                           NA            NA
      Los Anoeles 90036

  36  Platinum Equity LLC (5)      66.7         4,000        18,000
      2049 Century Park                         2,400          NA
      East, Suite 2700                           NA            NA
      Los Angeles 90067

  37  NewMark Merrill Co. (48)     65.7         10.3           35
      5850 Canoga Ave., Suite                    6.2           35
      650 Woodland Hills 91367                  $6.4           0%

  38  Pipedream                    63.5         24.6           120
      Products (60) (6)                          15            70
      8341 Canoga Ave.                          12.9          71.4
      Canoga Park 91304

  39  EDI Express (49)             61.5         38.2           76
      596 W. 135th St.                          23.6           56
      Gardena 90248                             20.8          35.7

  40  Bryan A. Stirrat             55.5         23.8           104
      Associates (65)                           15.3           79
      1360 Valley Vista Drive                   11.7          31.6
      Diamond Bar 91765

  41  Kendall Frozen               53.1         17.1           12
      Foods Inc. (97)                           11.1           11
      16133 Ventura Blvd.,                       5.4           9.1
      Suite 585 Encino 91436

  42  Re/Max Palos Verdes-         52.6          8.7         525 (7)
      Execs-Peninsula Escrow                     5.7         506 (7)
      63 Malaga Cove Plaza                       9.1           3.8
      Palos Verdes Estates
      90274

  43  Spectrum Construction         50           33            50
      6800 Owensmouth Ave.,                      22            47
      Suite 150 Woodland Hills                   16            6.4
      91303

  44  Panda Restaurant             48.3         414.3         7,685
      Group Inc. (53)                           279.3         3,975
      1683 Walnut Grove                         214.6         93.3
      Rosemead 91770

  45  Creative Channel              48           7.8           75
      Services Inc. (16)                         5.3           65
      600 Corporate Pointe,                      6.7          15.4
      Suite 150 Culver City
      90230

  46  Elkins/Jones                 45.8          35            28
      Insurance Agency Inc.                      24           same
      12100 Wilshire Blvd.,                      20             0
      Suite 300 Los Angeles
      90025

  47  Symark Corp. (26)            44.8          9.7           50
      30401 Agoura Road, Suite                   6.7           24
      200 Agoura Hills 91301                     4.5          108.3

  48  Aspen                        44.5         81.8          1,485
      Education Group Inc.                      56.6           750
      17777 Center Court Drive                  50.3           98
      Cerritos 90703

  49  Re/Max All Cities            44.4         72.1           74
      Realty (91) (8)                           49.9           42
      400 S. Sepulveda Blvd.,                   38.3          76.2
      Suite 100 Manhattan
      Beach 90266

  50  JC Sales                     43.8         86.1           192
      2720 S. Soto St.                          59.9           82
      Los Angeles 90023                         48.9          134.1

  51  Re/Max of Cerritos (93)      43            8.1           105
      12654 Misty Place                          5.7           91
      Cerritos 90703                             4.5          15.4

  52  Koos                         42.9         125.4         1,600
      Manufacturing Inc. (51)                   87.8           NA
      2741 Seminole Ave.                         NA            NA
      South Gate 90280

  53  Cook Inlet Energy            42.9         3,000          58
      Supply LLC (10)                           2,100          47
      10100 Santa Monica                         NA           23.4
      Blvd., 18th Floor
      Los Angeles 90067

  54  Avus Systems &               42.9          120           140
      Peripherals Inc. (29)                      84            NA
      14415 Don Julian Road                     64.3           NA
      City of Industry 91746

  55  Altour/Classic               41.2          24            10
      Cruise & Travel (30)                       17             9
      19720 Ventura Blvd.                        13           11.1
      Woodland Hills 93021

  56  Superior                     39.8          91            190
      Communications (14)                       65.1           148
      5027 Irwindale Ave.,                      58.1          28.4
      Suite 900 Irwindale
      91706

  57  Chef Merito Inc.             37.8          6.2           63
      7915 N. Sepulveda Blvd.                    4.5           23
      Van Nuys 91405                              7           173.9

  58  Cyberpower Inc.              37.6         33.3           62
      4802 Little John St.                      24.2           40
      Baldwin Park 91706                        18.9           55

  59  Belkin Corp. (31)            36.1          490           975
      501 W. Walnut St.                          360           700
      Compton 90220                              NA           39.3

  60  Signs 2000                   34.6           7            50
      8573 Canoga Ave.                           5.2           28
      Canocia Park 91304                          4           78.6

  61  LaserFiche                   33.3         14.8           140
      Document Imaging (12)                     11.1           69
      3545 Long Beach Blvd.                      8.6          102.9
      Long Beach 90807

  62  ValleyCrest Cos. (99)        33.3          620          7,500
      24121 Ventura Blvd.                        465          6,000
      Calabasas 91302                            WND           25

  63  Morley Builders (61) (9)     31.6          175           775
      2901 28th St., Suite 100                   133           640
      Santa Monica 90405                         104          21.1

  64  CCS Presentation             31.4         13.4           22
      Systems Inc. (15)                         10.2           15
      5055 Wilshire Blvd.,                       7.9          46.7
      Suite 305 Los Angeles
      90035

  65  Portosan Co. LLC (9)         31.3         32.5           337
      4511 N. Rowland Ave.                      24.8           330
      El Monte 91731                            16.2           2.1

  66  VPA Inc.                      31          16.9           211
      24025 Park Sorrento,                      12.9           161
      Suite 200 Calabasas                        9.8          31.1
      91302

  67  C&F Foods Inc.                31          94.1           372
      15620 E. Valley Blvd.                     71.8           198
      City of Industry 91744                  20.9 (10)       87.9

  68  Intelli-Tech                  31          16.5           26
      400 E. Arrow Highway,                     12.6           18
      P.O. Box 398 San Dimas                    20.5          44.4
      91773

  69  Tom's Aircraft                31           5.5           27
      Maintenance Inc.                           4.2           20
      2641 E. Spring St.                          3            35
      Long Beach 90806

  70  44 Blue Productions Inc.     30.1          9.1           12
      4040 Vineland Ave.,                         7           same
      Suite 105 Studio City                       4             0
      91604

  71  L.A. Gym Equipment Inc.      29.7         20.1           70
      12301 Sherman Way                         15.5           52
      North Hollywood 91605                     10.7          34.6

  72  Papa Cantella's Inc.         29.6          9.5           60
      3341 E. 50th St.                           7.4           50
      Vernon 90058                            2.9 (10)         20

  73  Matt                         28.9         149.6          160
      Construction Corp. (85)                   116.1          130
      9814 Norwalk Blvd.,                        68           23.1
      Suite 100 Santa Fe
      Springs 90670

  74  H & H Drug Stores Inc.       28.7         23.8           105
      3604 San Fernando Road                    18.5           90
      Glendale 91204                            14.8          16.7

  75  J.D. Power                   28.2          132        556 (11)
      and Associates                             103        460 (11)
      2625 Townsgate Road                       49.3          20.9
      Westlake Village 91361

  76  Uniserve                     26.7          19            400
      Facilities Services                        15            700
      550 S. Hope St., Suite                      5           -42.9
      T200 Los Angeles 90071

  77  Chipton-Ross Inc. (43)       26.4         40.5           694
      343 Main St.                               32            300
      El Segundo 90245                          29.1          131.3

  78  Delphi Business              26.2          6.1           20
      Properties Inc.                            4.8          same
      7100 Hayvenhurst Ave.,                     2.8            0
      Suite 211 Van Nuys 91406

  79  Individual Group (44)         26           63            175
      5496 Lingbergh Lane                        50            140
      Bell 90201                                35.3           25

  80  Holthouse Carlin             25.5         16.8           92
      & Van Trigt LLP                           13.4           64
      1601 Cloverfield Blvd.,                    9.9          43.8
      Suite 300 South Santa
      Monica 90404

  81  Majestic Realty Co.          24.9         306.7          185
      13191 Crossroads Parkway                  245.5          160
      City of Industry 91746                    143.5         15.6

  82  Young Systems Corp. (84)     24.1         20.8           37
      13850-B Cerritos                          16.8           30
      Corporate Drive Cerritos                  11.3          23.3
      90703

  83  Ben Myerson Candy Co.        23.5          210           550
      928 Towne Ave.                             170           535
      Los Angeles 90021                          105           2.8

  84  Jules Seltzer                23.3         14.3           25
      Associates (64)                           11.6           17
      8833 Beverly Blvd.                         7.3          47.1
      West Hollywood 90048

  85  Outsource Technical (4)      22.9         11.8           300
      1970 E. Grand Ave.,                        9.6           85
      Suite 120 El Segundo                        5           252.9
      90245

  86  Convaid Inc. (73)            22.5          8.7           97
      2830 California St.                        7.1           81
      Torrance 90503                             4.4          19.8

  87  AECOM Technology              22          1,682        17,100
      Corp. (42)                                1,379         7,200
      555 S. Flower St., Suite                1,850 (5)       137.5
      3700 Los Angeles 90071

  88  United Oil (75)              21.8          431           441
      17311 S. Main St.                          354           350
      Gardena 90248                              208           26

  89  Wexler Video Inc. (70)       21.2         22.5           90
      1111 S. Victory Blvd.                     18.6           71
      Burbank 91502                             15.4          26.8

  90  Cobe Chem Labs               20.3          9.5           75
      8616 Slauson Ave.                          7.9          same
      Pico Rivera 90660                          NA             0

  91  Team Services                19.1          392           44
      1023 N. Hollywood Way                      329           26
      Burbank 91505                              137          69.2

  92  Elekon                       17.8          7.3           320
      Industries Inc. (37)                       6.2           126
      3848 Del Amo Blvd.,                        4.2           154
      Suite 304 Torrance 90503

  93  La Amapola Inc.              17.7         23.6           210
      7223 Compton Ave.                         20.1           NA
      Los Angeles 90001                          NA            NA

  94  W.I. Simonson Inc.            17          150.5          238
      1626 Wilshire Blvd.                       128.7          NA
      Santa Monica 90403                         NA            NA

  95  John Paul Richard Inc.       16.2         129.8          111
      26800 Agoura Road                         111.7          98
      Calabasas 91301                            53           13.3

  96  Regency Lighting (98)        16.2         39.5           171
      16665 Arminta St.                          34            141
      Van Nuys 91406                            21.8          21.3

  97  MJW Investments (3)          15.4         36.9           78
      1640 Fifth St., Suite                      32            55
      112 Santa Monica 90401                    22.8          41.8

  98  Superior Tank Co.            15.3         18.2           87
      12450 Los Nietos Road                     15.8           70
      Santa Fe Springs 90670                    12.3          24.3

  99  Sea Dwelling                 15.2          7.6           61
      Creatures Inc.                             6.6           34
      5515 N. 104th St.                          4.1          79.4
      Los Angeles 90045

 100  Prosum Inc. (8)              14.9         10.4           85
      2041 Rosecrans Ave.,                       9.1           75
      Suite 220 El Segundo                       5.2          13.3
      90245

Rank  Company (Rank in 2002)                  Description
      * name
      * address

   1  David Lewis Co.              financial planning and analysis,
      6303 Owensmouth             accounting and financial reporting,
      Ave., 10th Floor            financial systems, process design/
      Woodland Hills 91367                  re-engineering

   2  CaseStack Inc.                     logistics outsourcing
      11755 Wilshire
      Blvd., Suite 1880
      Los Angeles 90025

   3  Ironclad                  designer, manufacturer and distributor
      Performance Wear Corp.    of task specific, technical work gloves
      12506 Beatrice St.
      Los Angeles 90066

   4  Insyght Interactive Inc.   meeting planning and management firm
      9100 Wilshire Blvd.,            for pharmaceutical industry
      East Tower, Suite 350
      Beverly Hills 90212

   5  Spenser                       engineering, design and project
      Communications Inc.             management for multi-media
      12806 Schabarum Ave.,                 communications
      Unit A Irwindale 91706

   6  Platinum Capital (3)                 mortgage banking
      3500 Sepulveda
      Blvd., Suite E
      Manhattan Beach 90266

   7  United Storm Water Inc.      storm water solutions contractor
      14000 E. Valley Blvd.
      City of Industry 91746

   8  Platinum Wireless Inc.      national authorized representative
      10435 Santa Monica                       of Nextel
      Blvd., Second Floor
      Los Angeles 90025

   9  Schecter Guitar Research            guitar manufacturer
      1840 Valpreda St.
      Burbank 91504

  10  Ace Fence Co. (59)                  fencing contractor
      15135 Salt Lake Ave.
      City of Industry 91746

  11  Ventura                   distributor of home video entertainment
      Distribution Inc.
      770 Lawrence Drive
      Thousand Oaks 91320

  12  American Apparel Inc.          manufacturer and distributor
      747 Warehouse St.            of T-shirts and related products
      Los Angeles 90021

  13  United Pacific                mortgage banking and brokerage
      Mortgage (11)
      18425 Burbank Road,
      Suite 622 Tarzana 91356

  14  Martin Bros./                commercial construction--drywall,
      Marcowall Inc.               plastering, lathing, metal studs
      17104 S. Figueroa St.                   and taping
      Gardena 90248

  15  M-Audio (45)               manufacturer and developer of digital
      45 E. Saint Joseph St.           audio recording hardware
      Arcadia 91006

  16  Support Services                   facility services for
      of America Inc.                   commercial institutions
      12440 Firestone Blvd.,
      Suite 312 Norwalk 90650

  17  Pathnet Esoteric                    medical laboratory
      Laboratory Institute
      7247 Hayvenhurst Ave.,
      Suite A3 Van Nuys 91406

  18  Innovative                     national insurance brokerage
      Solutions Insurance
      Services LLC (18)
      19191 S. Vermont Ave.,
      Suite 825 Torrance 90502

  19  Disc Marketing            creator of exclusive audio, visual and
      35 W. Dayton St.                    interactive content
      Pasadena 91105

  20  CDSNet Inc. (21)              bank check processing, payment
      3435 Wilshire              processing, electronic bill payment,
      Blvd., Fourth Floor       call center operations and management,
      Los Angeles 90010         IT outsourcing, pre-paid ATM card, gift
                                       card, debit card systems

  21  Madison Partners             commercial real estate brokerage
      12121 Wilshire
      Blvd., Suite 959
      Los Angeles 90025

  22  Norstar Office Products       office furniture manufacturer,
      5353 Jillson St.                 importer and distributor
      Commerce 90040

  23  Micro Solutions                manufacturer and distributor
      Enterprises (7)                     of imaging supplies
      9111 Mason Ave.
      Chatsworth 91311

  24  All Travel                    full service travel management
      2001 S. Barrington
      Ave., Suite 315
      Los Angeles 90025

  25  Medi Inc.                    electronic processor and clearing
      241 Lombard St.                  house of Medicare claims
      Thousand Oaks 91360

  26  Everse Corp.                information technology services and
      4751 Wilshire                       software solutions
      Blvd., Second Floor
      Los Angeles 90010

  27  Bernards Bros. Inc.           commercial general contracting,
      610 Ilex St.                      construction management
      San Fernando 91340

  28  Redbarn Pet Products         pet food and treats manufacturer
      2148 W. 16th St.
      Long Beach 90813

  29  Winspec West                   computer memory manufacturer
      Manufacturing Inc. (4)
      20160 Paseo del Prado,
      Suite D Walnut 91789

  30  Larwin Co. (24)               homebuilding, land development
      16633 Ventura
      Blvd., Suite 1300
      Encino 91436

  31  Born Again Clothing Inc.           clothing manufacturer
      4949 District Blvd.
      Vernon 90058

  32  PeopleSupport Inc. (2)           outsourced customer care,
      1100 Glendon                    sales and technical support
      Ave., Suite 1250
      Los Angeles 90024

  33  PAJO Networks               business-dedicated Internet access
      700 Wilshire                  (T1 and T3) and server hosting
      Blvd., Sixth Floor
      Los Angeles 90017

  34  Mobile Storage              rental and sale of on-site storage
      Group Inc. (19)              containers, trailers and portable
      7590 N. Glenoaks Blvd.                    offices
      Burbank 91504

  35  STA Travel Inc. (62)               student travel agency
      5900 Wilshire
      Blvd., Suite 900
      Los Anoeles 90036

  36  Platinum Equity LLC (5)      merger, acquisition and operation
      2049 Century Park          of technology services and solutions
      East, Suite 2700                        businesses
      Los Angeles 90067

  37  NewMark Merrill Co. (48)       buyer, developer, manager and
      5850 Canoga Ave., Suite         re-positioning services for
      650 Woodland Hills 91367             shopping centers

  38  Pipedream                             adult novelties
      Products (60) (6)
      8341 Canoga Ave.
      Canoga Park 91304

  39  EDI Express (49)                expedited trucking between
      596 W. 135th St.               California and the Northeast,
      Gardena 90248                      Southeast and Midwest

  40  Bryan A. Stirrat              landfill design, permitting and
      Associates (65)           construction, landfill gas management,
      1360 Valley Vista Drive    hazardous waste site characterization
      Diamond Bar 91765              and remediation, brownfields
                                             redevelopment

  41  Kendall Frozen                frozen fruit, juice concentrate
      Foods Inc. (97)                   and dried fruit broker
      16133 Ventura Blvd.,
      Suite 585 Encino 91436

  42  Re/Max Palos Verdes-         residential real estate brokerage
      Execs-Peninsula Escrow
      63 Malaga Cove Plaza
      Palos Verdes Estates
      90274

  43  Spectrum Construction       design-build including architecture
      6800 Owensmouth Ave.,      and construction, general contracting
      Suite 150 Woodland Hills
      91303

  44  Panda Restaurant             owner and operator of restaurants
      Group Inc. (53)
      1683 Walnut Grove
      Rosemead 91770

  45  Creative Channel             marketing, merchandising, retail
      Services Inc. (16)           training and e-learning solutions
      600 Corporate Pointe,         for computer products, consumer
      Suite 150 Culver City        electronics and home improvement
      90230                                   industries

  46  Elkins/Jones                  commercial insurance brokerage
      Insurance Agency Inc.
      12100 Wilshire Blvd.,
      Suite 300 Los Angeles
      90025

  47  Symark Corp. (26)         develops, markets and supports security
      30401 Agoura Road, Suite    solutions for UNIX and Linux-based
      200 Agoura Hills 91301              enterprise systems

  48  Aspen                     educational programs for underachieving
      Education Group Inc.            students and their families
      17777 Center Court Drive
      Cerritos 90703

  49  Re/Max All Cities          real estate, mortgage, escrow, title
      Realty (91) (8)
      400 S. Sepulveda Blvd.,
      Suite 100 Manhattan
      Beach 90266

  50  JC Sales                     wholesaler of general merchandise
      2720 S. Soto St.
      Los Angeles 90023

  51  Re/Max of Cerritos (93)   residential, commercial and industrial
      12654 Misty Place          real estate sales, land development,
      Cerritos 90703                        escrow services

  52  Koos                             demin jeans manufacturer
      Manufacturing Inc. (51)
      2741 Seminole Ave.
      South Gate 90280

  53  Cook Inlet Energy                      energy trader
      Supply LLC (10)
      10100 Santa Monica
      Blvd., 18th Floor
      Los Angeles 90067

  54  Avus Systems &             provider of hardware and software for
      Peripherals Inc. (29)              computers and servers
      14415 Don Julian Road
      City of Industry 91746

  55  Altour/Classic            full-service travel agency specializing
      Cruise & Travel (30)            in luxury cruises and tours
      19720 Ventura Blvd.
      Woodland Hills 93021

  56  Superior                       manufacturer and distributor
      Communications (14)            of wireless phone accessories
      5027 Irwindale Ave.,
      Suite 900 Irwindale
      91706

  57  Chef Merito Inc.          manufacturer, distributor and marketer
      7915 N. Sepulveda Blvd.      of specialty Latin American foods
      Van Nuys 91405

  58  Cyberpower Inc.              computer manufacturing and sales
      4802 Little John St.
      Baldwin Park 91706

  59  Belkin Corp. (31)           manufacturer of networking devices,
      501 W. Walnut St.           power protection, mobility devices
      Compton 90220               and desktop connectivity solutions

  60  Signs 2000                          commercial printer
      8573 Canoga Ave.
      Canocia Park 91304

  61  LaserFiche                  software development and marketing
      Document Imaging (12)
      3545 Long Beach Blvd.
      Long Beach 90807

  62  ValleyCrest Cos. (99)          landscape, site development,
      24121 Ventura Blvd.         horticultural services contracting
      Calabasas 91302

  63  Morley Builders (61) (9)               construction
      2901 28th St., Suite 100
      Santa Monica 90405

  64  CCS Presentation           full service dealership of projection
      Systems Inc. (15)            equipment and professional video
      5055 Wilshire Blvd.,               products and services
      Suite 305 Los Angeles
      90035

  65  Portosan Co. LLC (9)       service provider of portable toilets
      4511 N. Rowland Ave.
      El Monte 91731

  66  VPA Inc.                   employee benefits administration for
      24025 Park Sorrento,       group disability and leave of absence
      Suite 200 Calabasas                        plans
      91302

  67  C&F Foods Inc.                grower, packer, distributor and
      15620 E. Valley Blvd.         exporter of dried agricultural
      City of Industry 91744                  commodities

  68  Intelli-Tech                computer sales, hardware, software,
      400 E. Arrow Highway,        networking, consulting, security
      P.O. Box 398 San Dimas           storage, digital printing
      91773

  69  Tom's Aircraft                     aircraft maintenance,
      Maintenance Inc.                 parts and aircraft sales
      2641 E. Spring St.
      Long Beach 90806

  70  44 Blue Productions Inc.           television production
      4040 Vineland Ave.,
      Suite 105 Studio City
      91604

  71  L.A. Gym Equipment Inc.          retail and institutional
      12301 Sherman Way               sales of fitness equipment
      North Hollywood 91605

  72  Papa Cantella's Inc.             manufacturer of fresh and
      3341 E. 50th St.                   fully-cooked sausages
      Vernon 90058

  73  Matt                                general contractor,
      Construction Corp. (85)           commercial construction
      9814 Norwalk Blvd.,
      Suite 100 Santa Fe
      Springs 90670

  74  H & H Drug Stores Inc.                  drug stores
      3604 San Fernando Road
      Glendale 91204

  75  J.D. Power                     marketing research, customer
      and Associates               satisfaction and product quality
      2625 Townsgate Road          research, training and consulting
      Westlake Village 91361                   services

  76  Uniserve                          facilities maintenance
      Facilities Services               and janitorial services
      550 S. Hope St., Suite
      T200 Los Angeles 90071

  77  Chipton-Ross Inc. (43)          labor services contractor,
      343 Main St.                       technical consulting
      El Segundo 90245

  78  Delphi Business                industrial real estate sales,
      Properties Inc.               leasing and property management
      7100 Hayvenhurst Ave.,
      Suite 211 Van Nuys 91406

  79  Individual Group (44)            food service distributor
      5496 Lingbergh Lane
      Bell 90201

  80  Holthouse Carlin           tax, accounting, audit and consulting
      & Van Trigt LLP            services for closely held businesses
      1601 Cloverfield Blvd.,       and high-net worth individuals
      Suite 300 South Santa
      Monica 90404

  81  Majestic Realty Co.               real estate development
      13191 Crossroads Parkway
      City of Industry 91746

  82  Young Systems Corp. (84)        retailer and wholesaler of
      13850-B Cerritos               office machines and supplies
      Corporate Drive Cerritos
      90703

  83  Ben Myerson Candy Co.             candy manufacturer and
      928 Towne Ave.                  wholesale wine distributor
      Los Angeles 90021

  84  Jules Seltzer                full-service furniture dealership
      Associates (64)
      8833 Beverly Blvd.
      West Hollywood 90048

  85  Outsource Technical (4)    temporary and permanent staffing for
      1970 E. Grand Ave.,        telecommunications, network cabling,
      Suite 120 El Segundo        electrical, information technology
      90245                                 and health care

  86  Convaid Inc. (73)          manufacturer of lightweight, compact
      2830 California St.                 folding wheelchairs
      Torrance 90503

  87  AECOM Technology            holding company for architectural,
      Corp. (42)                   engineering, construction/program
      555 S. Flower St., Suite       management and operations and
      3700 Los Angeles 90071               maintenance firms

  88  United Oil (75)                     retail gas stations
      17311 S. Main St.                 and convenience stores
      Gardena 90248

  89  Wexler Video Inc. (70)        integrated production and post-
      1111 S. Victory Blvd.           production service provider
      Burbank 91502

  90  Cobe Chem Labs              manufacturer and private labeler of
      8616 Slauson Ave.           skincare, hair care and nutritional
      Pico Rivera 90660                       supplements

  91  Team Services               employer of record payroll service
      1023 N. Hollywood Way           for entertainment industry
      Burbank 91505

  92  Elekon                      designer and manufacturer of opto-
      Industries Inc. (37)      electronic products and medical devices
      3848 Del Amo Blvd.,
      Suite 304 Torrance 90503

  93  La Amapola Inc.                    market, Mexican deli
      7223 Compton Ave.
      Los Angeles 90001

  94  W.I. Simonson Inc.               Mercedes-Benz dealership
      1626 Wilshire Blvd.
      Santa Monica 90403

  95  John Paul Richard Inc.       womens' apparel manufacturing and
      26800 Agoura Road                     wholesale sales
      Calabasas 91301

  96  Regency Lighting (98)            commercial and industrial
      16665 Arminta St.                  lighting distributor
      Van Nuys 91406

  97  MJW Investments (3)         developer, investor, management and
      1640 Fifth St., Suite      reposition of commercial, industrial
      112 Santa Monica 90401          and residential properties

  98  Superior Tank Co.              furnish and erect steel water
      12450 Los Nietos Road         reservoirs of bolted or welded
      Santa Fe Springs 90670                 construction

  99  Sea Dwelling                    wholesaler of fish, marine
      Creatures Inc.              invertebrates and aquarium supplies
      5515 N. 104th St.
      Los Angeles 90045

 100  Prosum Inc. (8)              information technology consulting
      2041 Rosecrans Ave.,
      Suite 220 El Segundo
      90245

Rank  Company (Rank in 2002)        Profile      Top Local
      * name                        * year       Executive
      * address                   established    * name
                                  * locations    * title
                                (county/total)   * phone
                                   * end of
                                  fiscal year

   1  David Lewis Co.                1993        David M. Lewis
      6303 Owensmouth                 2/3        ceo, president
      Ave., 10th Floor              Dec. 31      [phone]
      Woodland Hills 91367

   2  CaseStack Inc.                 1999        Dan Sanker
      11755 Wilshire                  1/4        ceo, president
      Blvd., Suite 1880             Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90025

   3  Ironclad                       1999        Ed Jaeger
      Performance Wear Corp.          1/2        ceo, president
      12506 Beatrice St.            Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90066

   4  Insyght Interactive Inc.       1996        Rina Yasuda
      9100 Wilshire Blvd.,          1/same       ceo, president
      East Tower, Suite 350         July 31      [phone]
      Beverly Hills 90212

   5  Spenser                        1993        Kenneth M. Craig
      Communications Inc.             3/9        ceo
      12806 Schabarum Ave.,        Sept. 30      [phone]
      Unit A Irwindale 91706

   6  Platinum Capital (3)           1993        Brett Dillenberg
      3500 Sepulveda                 4/20        president
      Blvd., Suite E                Dec. 31      [phone]
      Manhattan Beach 90266

   7  United Storm Water Inc.        1999        Eduardo Perry Jr.
      14000 E. Valley Blvd.         1/same       president
      City of Industry 91746          NA         (877) 71-STORM

   8  Platinum Wireless Inc.         1997        Jeff Javidzad
      10435 Santa Monica              2/6        ceo
      Blvd., Second Floor           Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90025

   9  Schecter Guitar Research       1976        Michael Ciravolo
      1840 Valpreda St.             1/same       president
      Burbank 91504                Sept. 30      [phone]

  10  Ace Fence Co. (59)             1988        America Tang
      15135 Salt Lake Ave.          1/same       ceo
      City of Industry 91746        Dec. 31      [phone]

  11  Ventura                        1993        Larry Hayes
      Distribution Inc.             1/same       president
      770 Lawrence Drive            Dec. 31      [phone]
      Thousand Oaks 91320

  12  American Apparel Inc.          1998        Dov Charney
      747 Warehouse St.               1/4        president
      Los Angeles 90021             June 30      [phone]

  13  United Pacific                 1990        R. Levine/D. Wizelman
      Mortgage (11)                   4/7        ceo/president
      18425 Burbank Road,           Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 622 Tarzana 91356

  14  Martin Bros./                  1932        Mohamad N. Chahine
      Marcowall Inc.                  1/3        president
      17104 S. Figueroa St.         Dec. 31      [phone]
      Gardena 90248

  15  M-Audio (45)                   1997        Tim Ryan
      45 E. Saint Joseph St.          1/7        ceo
      Arcadia 91006                 Jan. 31      [phone]

  16  Support Services               1996        Alex Fortunati
      of America Inc.                 1/7        ceo, president
      12440 Firestone Blvd.,        Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 312 Norwalk 90650

  17  Pathnet Esoteric               1996        Alan Kaye
      Laboratory Institute            1/2        president
      7247 Hayvenhurst Ave.,        Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite A3 Van Nuys 91406

  18  Innovative                     1998        Lynne Rosenberg Kidd
      Solutions Insurance           1/same       president
      Services LLC (18)             Dec. 31      [phone]
      19191 S. Vermont Ave.,
      Suite 825 Torrance 90502

  19  Disc Marketing                 1997        Tena Clark
      35 W. Dayton St.                1/3        ceo
      Pasadena 91105                Dec. 31      [phone]

  20  CDSNet Inc. (21)               1984        Kathy Park
      3435 Wilshire                   2/5        president
      Blvd., Fourth Floor           Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90010

  21  Madison Partners               1996        Bob Safai
      12121 Wilshire                1/same       president
      Blvd., Suite 959             March 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90025

  22  Norstar Office Products        1990        William Huang
      5353 Jillson St.                1/2        president
      Commerce 90040                Dec. 31      [phone]

  23  Micro Solutions                1995        Avi Wazana
      Enterprises (7)                 1/4        ceo
      9111 Mason Ave.               Dec. 31      [phone]
      Chatsworth 91311

  24  All Travel                     1984        Eric J. Maryanov
      2001 S. Barrington            3/same       president
      Ave., Suite 315               Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90025

  25  Medi Inc.                      1995        David F. Bacon Jr.
      241 Lombard St.                 1/2        ceo
      Thousand Oaks 91360          March 31      [phone]

  26  Everse Corp.                   1998        James Sung
      4751 Wilshire                   1/4        ceo
      Blvd., Second Floor          April 30      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90010

  27  Bernards Bros. Inc.            1974        Douglas Bernards
      610 Ilex St.                    1/4        president
      San Fernando 91340            Dec. 31      [phone]

  28  Redbarn Pet Products           1996        Jeff Baikie
      2148 W. 16th St.              1/same       co-president
      Long Beach 90813              Dec. 31      [phone]

  29  Winspec West                   1999        M. Fuxa/M. Hofer/
      Manufacturing Inc. (4)          1/2        J. Nemeth owners
      20160 Paseo del Prado,          NA         [phone]
      Suite D Walnut 91789

  30  Larwin Co. (24)                1948        Denis Cullumber
      16633 Ventura                   1/2        president
      Blvd., Suite 1300             Dec. 31      [phone]
      Encino 91436

  31  Born Again Clothing Inc.       1990        Derek Banton
      4949 District Blvd.           1/same       corporate secretary
      Vernon 90058                  June 30      [phone]

  32  PeopleSupport Inc. (2)         1998        Lance Rosenzweig
      1100 Glendon                    1/4        chairman, ceo
      Ave., Suite 1250              Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90024

  33  PAJO Networks                  1997        John Carter
      700 Wilshire                  1/same       president
      Blvd., Sixth Floor            Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90017

  34  Mobile Storage                 1988        Douglas A. Waugaman
      Group Inc. (19)                2/75        ceo, president
      7590 N. Glenoaks Blvd.        Dec. 31      [phone]
      Burbank 91504

  35  STA Travel Inc. (62)           1978        Nick Thomas
      5900 Wilshire                  9/101       president
      Blvd., Suite 900              Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Anoeles 90036

  36  Platinum Equity LLC (5)        1995        Tom T. Gores
      2049 Century Park              NA/NA       chairman, ceo
      East, Suite 2700              Dec. 31      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90067

  37  NewMark Merrill Co. (48)       1997        S. Sigal/D. Frank
      5850 Canoga Ave., Suite         1/5        ceo/president
      650 Woodland Hills 91367      Dec. 31      [phone]

  38  Pipedream                      1973        David Feldman
      Products (60) (6)             1/same       ceo
      8341 Canoga Ave.              Dec. 31      [phone]
      Canoga Park 91304

  39  EDI Express (49)               1994        Luis Torruella
      596 W. 135th St.               1/WND       president
      Gardena 90248                 Dec. 31      [phone]

  40  Bryan A. Stirrat               1984        Bryan A. Stirrat
      Associates (65)                 1/5        president
      1360 Valley Vista Drive       Dec. 31      [phone]
      Diamond Bar 91765

  41  Kendall Frozen                 1978        Susan Kendall
      Foods Inc. (97)                 1/2        president
      16133 Ventura Blvd.,          Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 585 Encino 91436

  42  Re/Max Palos Verdes-           1984        Sandra Sanders
      Execs-Peninsula Escrow        17/same      president
      63 Malaga Cove Plaza          Dec. 31      [phone]
      Palos Verdes Estates
      90274

  43  Spectrum Construction          1991        Chris Brown
      6800 Owensmouth Ave.,           1/2        ceo
      Suite 150 Woodland Hills      Dec. 31      [phone]
      91303

  44  Panda Restaurant               1973        Peggy Cherng
      Group Inc. (53)               91/539       ceo, president
      1683 Walnut Grove             Dec. 27      [phone]
      Rosemead 91770

  45  Creative Channel               1995        Anne Marie Mueller
      Services Inc. (16)            1/same       ceo, president
      600 Corporate Pointe,         Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 150 Culver City
      90230

  46  Elkins/Jones                   1996        Janet Jones
      Insurance Agency Inc.           1/2        president
      12100 Wilshire Blvd.,         Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 300 Los Angeles
      90025

  47  Symark Corp. (26)              1985        Robert H. Sommers
      30401 Agoura Road, Suite        1/5        chairman, ceo
      200 Agoura Hills 91301        Dec. 31      [phone]

  48  Aspen                          1998        Elliot Sainer
      Education Group Inc.           4/46        ceo
      17777 Center Court Drive      Dec. 31      [phone]
      Cerritos 90703

  49  Re/Max All Cities              1957        Kelli P. Amundson
      Realty (91) (8)                12/14       president
      400 S. Sepulveda Blvd.,       Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 100 Manhattan
      Beach 90266

  50  JC Sales                       1993        James H. Shim
      2720 S. Soto St.              1/same       ceo
      Los Angeles 90023             Dec. 31      [phone]

  51  Re/Max of Cerritos (93)        1985        Grace Hu
      12654 Misty Place             6/same       president
      Cerritos 90703                Dec. 31      [phone]

  52  Koos                           1985        U Yul Ku
      Manufacturing Inc. (51)       1/same       president
      2741 Seminole Ave.           April 30      [phone]
      South Gate 90280

  53  Cook Inlet Energy              1989        Gregory L. Craig
      Supply LLC (10)               1/same       ceo
      10100 Santa Monica            Dec. 31      [phone]
      Blvd., 18th Floor
      Los Angeles 90067

  54  Avus Systems &                 1991        Calvin Lam
      Peripherals Inc. (29)           1/6        president
      14415 Don Julian Road         Dec. 31      [phone]
      City of Industry 91746

  55  Altour/Classic                 1989        Penny Entin
      Cruise & Travel (30)          1/same       ceo
      19720 Ventura Blvd.           Dec. 31      [phone]
      Woodland Hills 93021

  56  Superior                       1991        Solomon Chen
      Communications (14)             1/2        ceo, president
      5027 Irwindale Ave.,          Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 900 Irwindale
      91706

  57  Chef Merito Inc.               1985        Plinio J. Garcia
      7915 N. Sepulveda Blvd.         1/5        ceo, president
      Van Nuys 91405                Oct. 31      [phone]

  58  Cyberpower Inc.                1998        Eric Cheung
      4802 Little John St.          1/same       ceo
      Baldwin Park 91706            Dec. 31      [phone]

  59  Belkin Corp. (31)              1983        Chet Pipkin
      501 W. Walnut St.              2/11        ceo, president
      Compton 90220                Sept. 30      [phone]

  60  Signs 2000                     1988        Dan Pulos
      8573 Canoga Ave.                1/2        president
      Canocia Park 91304            Dec. 31      [phone]

  61  LaserFiche                     1987        Nien-Ling Wacker
      Document Imaging (12)           1/3        ceo, president
      3545 Long Beach Blvd.         Dec. 31      [phone]
      Long Beach 90807

  62  ValleyCrest Cos. (99)          1949        Burton S. Sperber
      24121 Ventura Blvd.            5/90        ceo
      Calabasas 91302              April 30      [phone]

  63  Morley Builders (61) (9)       1947        Mark Benjamin
      2901 28th St., Suite 100        1/2        ceo
      Santa Monica 90405           March 31      [phone]

  64  CCS Presentation               1996        Gina M. Riberi
      Systems Inc. (15)               1/4        president
      5055 Wilshire Blvd.,          Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 305 Los Angeles
      90035

  65  Portosan Co. LLC (9)           1998        Ronald Valenta
      4511 N. Rowland Ave.           1/10        managing member
      El Monte 91731                Dec. 31      [phone]

  66  VPA Inc.                       1979        John Gernert
      24025 Park Sorrento,            1/3        ceo, president
      Suite 200 Calabasas           Dec. 31      [phone]
      91302

  67  C&F Foods Inc.                 1975        Luis Faura
      15620 E. Valley Blvd.           2/5        president, coo
      City of Industry 91744        May 31       [phone]

  68  Intelli-Tech                   1992        Cynthia Johnson
      400 E. Arrow Highway,         1/same       ceo
      P.O. Box 398 San Dimas        Dec. 31      [phone]
      91773

  69  Tom's Aircraft                 1983        Tom Jacobson
      Maintenance Inc.              1/same       president
      2641 E. Spring St.            Dec. 31      [phone]
      Long Beach 90806

  70  44 Blue Productions Inc.       1984        Rasha Drachkovitch
      4040 Vineland Ave.,           1/same       president
      Suite 105 Studio City         Jan. 31      [phone]
      91604

  71  L.A. Gym Equipment Inc.        1988        Ran Radzewsky
      12301 Sherman Way              6/12        president
      North Hollywood 91605         Dec. 31      [phone]

  72  Papa Cantella's Inc.           1980        Tom Cantella
      3341 E. 50th St.              1/same       president
      Vernon 90058                  May 31       [phone]

  73  Matt                           1991        Paul Matt
      Construction Corp. (85)         1/2        ceo
      9814 Norwalk Blvd.,           Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 100 Santa Fe
      Springs 90670

  74  H & H Drug Stores Inc.         1980        Jack Youredjian
      3604 San Fernando Road        4/same       ceo, president
      Glendale 91204                Dec. 31      [phone]

  75  J.D. Power                     1968        Steve Goodall
      and Associates                  1/9        ceo, president
      2625 Townsgate Road           Dec. 31      [phone]
      Westlake Village 91361

  76  Uniserve                       1966        Sam Hwang
      Facilities Services             419        chairman, ceo
      550 S. Hope St., Suite        June 30      [phone]
      T200 Los Angeles 90071

  77  Chipton-Ross Inc. (43)         1983        Sharon M. King
      343 Main St.                  2/same       president
      El Segundo 90245              Dec. 31      [phone]

  78  Delphi Business                1983        Ross W. Thomas
      Properties Inc.               1/same       ceo
      7100 Hayvenhurst Ave.,        Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 211 Van Nuys 91406

  79  Individual Group (44)          1926        Onnie Benchetnit
      5496 Lingbergh Lane             1/2        chairwoman, ceo
      Bell 90201                    Dec. 31      [phone]

  80  Holthouse Carlin               1991        Philip Holthouse
      & Van Trigt LLP               3/same       managing partner
      1601 Cloverfield Blvd.,       Dec. 31      [phone]
      Suite 300 South Santa
      Monica 90404

  81  Majestic Realty Co.            1948        Edward P. Roski Jr.
      13191 Crossroads Parkway        1/4        chairman, ceo
      City of Industry 91746        Dec. 31      [phone]

  82  Young Systems Corp. (84)       1985        Young H. Lee
      13850-B Cerritos              1/same       president
      Corporate Drive Cerritos      Dec. 31      [phone]
      90703

  83  Ben Myerson Candy Co.          1936        Robert Myerson
      928 Towne Ave.                  2/3        chairman
      Los Angeles 90021            Sept. 30      [phone]

  84  Jules Seltzer                  1937        Linda Seltzer
      Associates (64)               2/same       president
      8833 Beverly Blvd.            Oct. 31      [phone]
      West Hollywood 90048

  85  Outsource Technical (4)        1998        J. Lowell/A. Cuneo
      1970 E. Grand Ave.,             2/4        ceo/president
      Suite 120 El Segundo          Dec. 31      [phone]
      90245

  86  Convaid Inc. (73)              1976        Merv Watkins
      2830 California St.           1/same       president
      Torrance 90503                Dec. 31      [phone]

  87  AECOM Technology               1985        Richard G. Newman
      Corp. (42)                    WND/WND      chairman, ceo
      555 S. Flower St., Suite     Sept. 30      [phone]
      3700 Los Angeles 90071

  88  United Oil (75)                1955        Ron Appel
      17311 S. Main St.             1/same       president
      Gardena 90248                 Dec. 31      [phone]

  89  Wexler Video Inc. (70)         1984        Chris Thompson
      1111 S. Victory Blvd.         1/same       president
      Burbank 91502                 Dec. 31      [phone]

  90  Cobe Chem Labs                 1973        Sergio Quinones
      8616 Slauson Ave.             1/same       president
      Pico Rivera 90660             Dec. 31      [phone]

  91  Team Services                  1992        Gerry Schwartz
      1023 N. Hollywood Way           1/4        president
      Burbank 91505                 Dec. 31      [phone]

  92  Elekon                         1990        Thomas Dietiker
      Industries Inc. (37)            1/2        ceo, president
      3848 Del Amo Blvd.,           June 30      [phone]
      Suite 304 Torrance 90503

  93  La Amapola Inc.                1961        Carlos B. Galvan
      7223 Compton Ave.             2/same       president
      Los Angeles 90001               NA         [phone]

  94  W.I. Simonson Inc.             1937        William Rehwald
      1626 Wilshire Blvd.           3/same       owner, cfo
      Santa Monica 90403              NA         [phone]

  95  John Paul Richard Inc.         1996        R. Hirsh/J. Beltran
      26800 Agoura Road               2/4        co-ceos
      Calabasas 91301               Dec. 31      [phone]

  96  Regency Lighting (98)          1981        Ron Regenstreif
      16665 Arminta St.               1/5        ceo
      Van Nuys 91406                Jan. 31      [phone]

  97  MJW Investments (3)            1980        Mark Weinstein
      1640 Fifth St., Suite           1/3        president
      112 Santa Monica 90401        Dec. 31      [phone]

  98  Superior Tank Co.              1984        J.E. Marquez
      12450 Los Nietos Road           1/5        president
      Santa Fe Springs 90670        Jan. 31      [phone]

  99  Sea Dwelling                   1993        Brad Remmer
      Creatures Inc.                1/same       president
      5515 N. 104th St.            Sept. 30      [phone]
      Los Angeles 90045

 100  Prosum Inc. (8)                1996        Ravi Chatwani
      2041 Rosecrans Ave.,          1/same       ceo
      Suite 220 El Segundo          Dec. 31      [phone]
      90245

NA--Not Available

WND--Would Not Disclose

(1) Revenues as of fiscal year end 2002.

(2) First two quarters.

(3) Company has administrative offices in Irvine.

(4) Information obtained from Entrepreneur Magazine.

(5) Full fiscal year revenues.

(6) Revenues discrepancy from last year due to change in fiscal year.

(7) Employment figures include independent contractors.

(8) Formerly Re/Max Beach Cities/Westside Properties.

(9) Discrepancy with past revenue figures due to reporting
of calendar versus fiscal year revenues, fiscal year revenues
shown.

(10) First quarter only.

(11) Employment figures exclude Asia Pacific.

Note: Due to the right of privately held companies to withhold
information, the Business Journal makes no pretense of this
being a complete list. The information on this list was provided
by representatives of the companies themselves and the Business
Journal takes their word for sales and employees figures. Companies
are ranked by their percentage growth in revenues from 2000 to 2002.
Revenue figures are rounded off. Numbers that appear to be tied would
not be if they were not rounded off. To qualify for the list, a
company must be privately held, for-profit, headquartered in Los
Angeles County, including Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks, in
business as of January 2000 and not be a division or subsidiary of
another company. Companies are also required to have at least $5
million in 2002 revenues. Advertising agencies, law firms and banks
were not included on this list because they do not report revenues in
a conventional manner. To the best of our knowledge, this information
is accurate as of press time. While every effort is made to ensure the
accuracy and thoroughness of the list, omissions and typographical
errors sometimes occur. Please send corrections or additions on
company letterhead to the Research Department, Los Angeles Business
Journal, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 170, Los Angeles 90036. [c] 2003
Los Angeles Business Journal. This list may not be reprinted in whole
or in part without prior written permission from the editor. Reprints
are available from Wright's Reprints, [phone].

Researched by Nicole Taylor