In an annual tradition, the fastest-growing companies in Northeast Ohio were identified on the new Weatherhead 100 list.

Started by Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management in 1987, the list is now compiled and managed by the Council of Smaller Enterprises to spotlight companies that serve as role models to hard work, commitment and innovation.

Qualifying companies must show consistent growth in the past five years and are judged using objective criteria.

Here are the 2007 winners from Summit, Stark, Medina, Portage and Wayne counties, by their rank among the 100, company name, city and percentage revenue growth from 2002 and 2006:

• 4 — Giambrone Construction, Hudson, 1,590 percent

• 9 — Equity Consultants, Richfield, 1,226 percent

• 12 — PartsSource, Aurora, 1,037 percent

• 16 — Omega Laboratories,
Mogadore, 676 percent

• 17 — Griffith Holdings, Medina, 611 percent

• 19 — Jarrett Logistics Systems, Orrville, 567 percent

• 22 — Razorleaf Corp., Stow, 476 percent

• 30 — Vertex Computer Systems, Twinsburg, 350 percent

• 34 — OEConnection, Richfield, 319 percent

• 38 — MOBILITYWORKS, Akron, 303 percent

• 39 — Experient, Twinsburg, 298 percent

• 44 — October Research Corp., Richfield, 269 percent

• 48 — Group Transportation Services, Hudson, 261 percent

• 50 — Small Hands Big Dreams Learning Centers, Akron, 249 percent

• 51 — NeTeam Systems, Richfield, 244 percent

• 55 — Group Management Services, Richfield, 221 percent

• 57 — Ohio Realty Advisors, Richfield, 214 percent

• 60 — Applied Vision Company, Akron, 199 percent

• 69 — Sequoia Financial Group, Akron, 179 percent

• 77 — WhiteSpace Creative, Akron, 157 percent

• 81 — Maxim Enterprises, North Canton, 151 percent

• 83 — BPR/RICO Equipment, Medina, 149 percent

• 84 — AVID Technologies, Twinsburg, 146 percent

• 90 — I.D. Images, Brunswick, 140 percent

• 98 — Leitner Fabrication, Medina, 121 percent

• 99 — Fire-Dex, Medina, 121 percent

Among smaller fast-growing companies, Weatherhead recognized 34 ''Upstarts.'' Local winners of that category — which employ no more than 15 people with less than $1 million in net sales in 2006 — are:

• 3 — Cole Industries, Akron, 873 percent

• 12 — ThrowThings.com, Ravenna, 197 percent

• 18 — Chad Allan Consulting, Medina, 146 percent

Also, nine companies made the Weatherhead ''Centurions'' list, which spotlights large, fast-growing companies that had net sales of at least $100 million or more in 2006.

One local company made that list:

• 4 — National Interstate Insurance Co., Richfield, 157 percent

For a list of all winners, and a brief explanation of what each company does, visit http://www.weatherhead100.org.