SFA One Hundred celebrates fastest-growing alumni businesses
Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship has debuted SFA One Hundred, a new program designed to identify and celebrate the 100 fastest-growing Lumberjack-led businesses in the world. Nominations and applications for the 2027 rankings are currently open and will be accepted through Nov. 1.
The SFA One Hundred recognizes the success, innovation and contributions of the top 100 alumni-owned businesses that embody the legacy, values and entrepreneurial spirit of SFA and ACE.
“The program is a transformative milestone for the Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship and our entire university community,” said Dr. Todd Brown, associate vice president for academic affairs. “We are incredibly excited to shine a spotlight on the visionary alumni successful entrepreneurial ventures. We are not only honoring their hard work but also inspiring the next generation of SFA students. It is a privilege to finally recognize these leaders and showcase the profound economic impact our graduates are making across the world.”
ACE established the SFA One Hundred in 2025 in collaboration with Greg Price ’80, chief financial officer of Decisio Health in Houston and an angel investor and former judge of SFA’s Lumberjack Entrepreneurship Competition.
“In my early conversations with Trey Turner [SFA development] and Todd Brown about the possibility of the initiative, we recognized a powerful truth: For over 100 years, this university has been a catalyst for entrepreneurial success,” Price said. “The time has come to honor that legacy. The achievements of our alumni — innovators who have built companies, created jobs and made their mark across Texas and beyond — deserve meaningful recognition. The program is our way of celebrating that impact and carrying it forward into the next century.”
For this inaugural ranking of companies, each nominee or applicant must have been in continuous operation for at least three years as of Dec. 31, 2025, and have generated revenues of at least $200,000 every fiscal year since Jan. 1, 2023. Then the rankings will be calculated based on each applicant’s compound annual growth rate in sales or revenue over a three-year period spanning 2023, 2024 and 2025.
To be eligible for the program, companies must meet specific longevity, revenue and leadership criteria.
Furthermore, the business must be Lumberjack-founded, owned or led. Eligible leaders must hold a C-suite title, such as CEO, chair or managing partner, or own a majority stake of 50% or more. Former students who attended SFA but did not formally complete their degrees remain eligible to apply. Learn more and apply.
The honored companies will be announced publicly at an SFA awards ceremony, increasing businesses’ visibility by sharing company names, logos, Lumberjack leadership names, contact information, locations and other self-reported information.
While waiting to hear back on the SFA One Hundred, alumni are encouraged to add their businesses to the Lumberjack Alumni-owned Business Directory, which can be found online at sfasu.edu/ace/business-directory.
The inaugural SFA One Hundred list will be unveiled during a special awards celebration in April 2027. Honored business leaders will participate in a luncheon revealing the rankings, deliver keynote speeches, engage in class presentations and network with college deans and SFA leadership.
To ensure the utmost integrity and financial privacy, all baseline financial data is submitted directly to an independent accounting firm, Carr, Riggs & Ingram. The financial data is kept strictly confidential; neither SFA nor The University of Texas System will have access to the raw numbers, and they will receive only the final, verified rankings for the awards. ★
Purple Spikes helps East Texas businesses plan for the future
East Texas businesses now have a free community resource designed to preserve the vitality of their companies through a business succession program called Purple Spikes, a new initiative from ACE.
As part of ACE’s broader initiative of launching new entrepreneurial ventures, Purple Spikes aims to keep current East Texas businesses operating by connecting business owners through a business succession network. The program helps connect those who might be ready to retire or exit the business for another pursuit by connecting them with qualified buyers. This program keeps businesses open in the Lumberjack family and retains jobs in the region.
“Just within the region, nearly 200 businesses representing over 2,000 jobs are at risk of disappearing without a succession plan,” said Dr. Todd Brown, associate vice president for academic affairs. “This would be a major blow to the local economy in millions of lost revenues. ACE hopes to ensure job preservation and long-term economic growth by connecting possible graduating students, alumni or qualified entrepreneurs with these business acquisition opportunities.”
The succession network on the Purple Spikes webpage is organized into two groups: businesses looking to sell and qualified buyers. SFA’s network of buyers includes experienced individuals and Lumberjack alumni interested in growing roots in the area as well as high-achieving recent graduates motivated and financially prepared to take over operations.
ACE’s first business listing actively seeking a successor is Larry Bruce Gardens of Kennard, a hospitality getaway with guest house rentals, a restaurant and an event center.
“It was truly an honor to be the first business to participate in the Purple Spikes program at SFA,” Bruce said. “Our belief is that someone will not only be able to take over Larry Bruce Gardens but actually take it to the levels that will produce amazing results, thanks to SFA and ACE.”
There are no fees for participating, and contributions are welcome from those who wish to support the program’s continued success.
“ACE works closely with business owners to support their goals and the long-term interests for their venture by connecting them with a potential successor,” said Dr. Raymond Jones, entrepreneurship program director. “For those interested in selling a business, the idea of entrepreneurship through acquisition and succession hopes to provide an opportunity for keeping the business’ legacy alive while ensuring that the continued success of the business gives back the community.”
If you are interested in selling or owning a business, visit gosfa.com/purplespikes to complete a profile. Within seven days of reviewing the submitted form, ACE will reach out to discuss your goals and next steps.
Accepted businesses will be featured on Purple Spikes’ website, and ACE will assist in promoting their opportunity to potential buyers. ACE will also help interested owners connect with businesses that align with their goals and qualifications, and ensure they are prepared for the undertaking of a business acquisition.
For more information, contact Dr. Hollie Smith, ACE executive director of community partnerships, at hsmith@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-2988. ★