Mark Peters was confident his wireless-enabled control device firm was successful when it made money in the second year of business.

        He also was reassured when distributors began calling to buy products from his firm and trade magazines wanted to write pieces on award-winning technologies the company developed.

GROWTH SPURT

A look at three Tristate companies that were ranked among the nation's 100 fastest-growing entrepreneurial businesses in the June issue of Entrepreneur magazine.     Alliance Mortgage Group    Rank: 55.    Business: Mortgage banking.    Started: January 1999 with $180,000 from bank loan and savings.    2001 sales: $5.7 million.    Employees: Started with four; now has 93.    Founders: John P. Grippa III, Ricardo R. Sanz, James A. Hinkle and Todd Kennard.     American Century Mortgage Ltd.    Rank: 61.    Business: Mortgage brokerage.    Started: August 2000 with $75,000 from bank loan.    2001 sales: $2.1 million.    Employees: Started with four; now has 73.    Founders: J. Edward Clark and Rick Browning.     Controlink LLC    Rank: 81.    Business: Wireless enabled control-devices.    Started: February 2000 with $580,500 from private investors.    2001 sales: $2.2 million.    Employees: Started with one; now has eight.    Founders: Mark E. Peters and Richard S. Weeks.    Source: Entrepreneur magazine

        Those elements helped West Chester-based Controlink LLC and two other Tristate start-ups rank among the nation's new fastest-growing 100 entrepreneurial businesses in the June issue of Entrepreneur magazine.

        Controlink, which ranked 81st, was joined by Alliance Mortgage Group and American Century Mortgage Ltd., which respectively finished 55th and 61st. Alliance Mortgage and American Century Mortgage, both based in Mason, were helped by a record-setting housing market that was one bright spot in last year's weak economy.

        The No. 1 company on the list is CokeM International, a Plymouth, Minn.-based home entertainment marketer.

        Locally, J. Edward Clark, president of American Century Mortgage, said his mortgage brokerage firm has been able to thrive by focusing on competitive pricing, personalized service and giving clients what they want. One example: It issues post-customer surveys asking clients how they were treated and how the company can better serve them.

        John P. Grippa III, president of Alliance Mortgage Group, said being able to offer customers a wide range of mortgage products and services, and serve a diverse mix of customers has helped his firm.

        Its national clientele includes first-time homebuyers with poor credit seeking non-conforming mortgages to affluent individuals wanting mortgages to buy million-dollar homes.

        “We specialize in the mortgage business, and that's all we try to do,” Mr. Grippa said. "We don't try to do everything like other lenders.”

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