Posted by Kevin.

What would the world be without industry awards? A little less shiny to be sure. And Lucite manufacturers would undoubtedly be shuttered left and right. And one would have to get on "The Price is Right" in hopes of being called to "come and down" and celebrate the coolness that is you. Frankly, that would be sad.

So, yes, we like awards. We admit it. But we don't work for awards. We get awards for our work. Usually because our work works so darn well. (Apparently, having your priorities in order leads to actual success and recognition. Who knew?) And it seems like the more we work, the more awards accumulate on our shelves. Awards like these:

2005

• Kevin Lofgren Named to The Dallas Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" List
  • Three years after founding Farstar, Kevin was named to The Dallas Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" list with five years to spare. The list is comprised of individuals who are making a name for themselves and their companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in regards to both business success and community involvement. Kevin hopes to parlay this recognition into a spot on the "Ninety-nine Under 99" list released annually by the Montgomery Burns Foundation.
    

2007

• Farstar Named to Comerica Bank's "Collin 60" List (#54 of 60)
  • The Collin 60 is comprised of the 60 fastest-growing private companies in Collin County. With over 20,000 businesses, Collin County itself is one of the fastest growing counties in the country. To qualify for the Collin 60, Farstar had to show a 2004 top line sales growth between $250,000 and $20 million, as well as a sustained three-year growth pattern. In addition, each nominee hosted a site visit for the Collin 60 judges prior to the judging process.

2008

• Kevin Lofgren Wins Collin County Business Press Celebration of Enterprise Award
  • The Celebration of Enterprise Award recognizes private companies in Collin County annually that demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit that keeps the community growing and successful. The award is judged subjectively by local business executives and personalities that looked for entrepreneurs who saw a need, took significant risks and faced a high degree of adversity in order to fill that need, and achieved success regardless of challenges in their way. They decided Kevin fit that description to a T; and, for once, he wasn't one to argue.
  
  
• Farstar Wins the D/FW Interactive Marketing Association Most Effective Local Campaign Award
  • The DFWIMA is a forum that allows interactive and marketing professionals, businesses and educators in the Metroplex to share ideas, information and best practices. Each year DFWIMA recognizes thought leaders who demonstrate superior execution, and innovation in the field of interactive marketing. On May 14, 2008, they announced the winners of their 8th Annual Excellence in Interactive Marketing Awards. Farstar's holiday-themed campaign for Current Energy (our single entry into the competition) beat out multiple entries from such Dallas advertising giants as The Richards Group and TM (formerly Temerlin McClain) to be named "Most Effective Local Campaign." Which was nice, considering Effectiveness is our middle name.
  
  
• Farstar Wins Direct Marketing Association International ECHO Award
  • The Direct Marketing Association International ECHO Awards ceremony, hosted by Jay Leno and held at the Bellagio Hotel, was the feature event during their multi-day conference in Las Vegas in October 2008. The ceremony recognized international marketing companies who have created innovative campaigns incorporating copy, graphics, production quality and marketing strategy with outstanding results. Farstar was honored for its first and only entry into the competition: "Hit the Moving Target" for Coupons, Inc. With attendees representing the world's largest ad agencies in attendance, Farstar's win was all the more impressive.
  
  
• Farstar Wins Frisco Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award
  • Frisco is one of Texas's fastest-growing cities. Our the town's population explodes, so does its industry. This once quiet outpost north of Dallas is now home to thousands of small companies (like us), as well as international corporations (like Sanyo, for instance). So, in the face of such intense competition, it was quite an honor be named the Small Business of the Year just one year after having moved to Frisco from a neighboring burg.
  
  
• Kevin Lofgren Named as Frisco Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist
  • In addition to Farstar being named Small Business of the Year, Kevin himself was nominated by the Chamber Board of Directors for Entrepreneur of the Year. Technically speaking, he didn't win. But Kevin insists that, yes, being nominated was victory enough.
  
  
• Kevin Lofgren Wins the Metroplex Technology Business Council's Tech Titans Community Hero Award
  • The Metroplex Technology Business Council is the largest technology trade association in Texas, and is dedicated to promoting the high-tech industry within the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Members of the MTBC include local and regional companies, as well as industry giants like Samsung, Siemens, Sun Microsystems and many other corporations that don't start with "S." In 2008, the MTBC awarded two Tech Titans Community Hero awards to individuals within the industry who made an exceptional impact upon the greater community. Kevin was one of those individuals. Kevin was honored for his role in founding and running the Mindbender Academy. Mindbender Academy is a week-long summer day camp for seventh and eighth graders in the Frisco school district that encourages kids to learn about science, engineering and other technology-based careers. Kevin first conceived of Mindbender as a way to help staunch the brain drain of tech jobs from the U.S. In addition to helping run the academy, Kevin and his team at Farstar created the camp's website and all necessary marketing materials.
  
  
• Kevin Lofgren Named to the Collin County Business Press 2008 21 for the 21st Century
  • Continuing a string of winning something the frist time he or Farstar is nominated, Kevin was named one of Collin County's "21 for the 21st Century" by the Collin County Business Press. Past winners include 15 mayors, scores of councilmen, college trustees, a sheriff and 49 CEOs. In other words, people just like Kevin. Except they wear suits more often.
  
  
• Farstar Named to Comerica Bank's Collin 60 (#21 of 60)
  • Last year, Farstar ranked #54 on this list, which was pretty impressive given the county's explosive growth. But this year the team managed to ratchet themselves up to #21. At this rate, Farstar will hit #1 sometime in July 2009.

2009

• Farstar Named to Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Private Businesses in America
  • Same song, different verse: Farstar was again recognized for its continued success and named to Inc. magazine's list of the fastest growing private companies in America for 2009. While Farstar's ranking of 2699 may not seem all that and a bag of Cheetos at first glance, bear in mind that there are over 20 million private companies in America. (Or at least there were before the economic shizzle hit the Vornado.) So, Farstar is in the top .01% of private companies in the country as far growth is concerned. And by growth we mean revenue. Not toe fungus.
  
  
• Farstar Named Frisco Style Magazine's Best of Business 2009
  • It is with great pleasure that we announce our inclusion in Frisco Style's Best of Business 2009 list. A list that includes only nine area companies, including a little store full of Swedish tchotchkes called – what was that name again – Ikea. What's possibly more impressive is that Frisco is located in the heart of Collin County, which is one of America's fastest growing counties. Frisco itself is only 46% developed, with an expected build-out population of 250,000 residents by 2020. So, even in this currently funkified economy, Frisco is booming. And Farstar is booming with the best of them.

Well, that's the list for now. We were honored, humbled and grateful to receive every single one of these awards. We hope they are more a reflection of the success we've brought our clients than anything we've done for ourselves.

kl