Oil firm prospers: RKA Petroleum's Brian Dorrow fills a tanker with fuel. The Romulus firm made $206.3 million in 2007.

FERNDALE -- Recognized as one of the country's fastest-growing companies for three years in a row by Inc. magazine, Big Communications figures it must be on the right track.

The 13-year-old Ferndale company, which develops video and online advertising for drug companies, is among nearly 150 Michigan-based companies that made the magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies this year. Inc., a publication aimed at entrepreneurs, has been compiling the list for 25 years.

"It's an honor to be on the list for one year, let alone three years in a row," said Brad Oleshansky, chief operating officer for Big Communications, which ranked in the top 500.

"We're going for a five-year plaque," joked Lisa Stern, president and CEO.

Ten of the top 500 fastest-growing companies are based in Michigan and seven are headquartered in Metro Detroit. The others are in Ann Arbor, Traverse City and Davisburg. The companies represent a variety of industries, ranging from health care to retail to marketing.

It stands to reason that some Michigan companies are flourishing, despite the sluggish economy over the past few years, said Mike Rogers, vice president of communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan.

"In a sense, it is surprising (to have 10 businesses in the top 500) because of the way Michigan's economy is going," Rogers said. "But I personally am not surprised."

He said the association is lobbying to make changes in Michigan's business laws to make the state more attractive to entrepreneurs and thereby increase the number on Inc.'s list.

"We have 10 (businesses) in the top 500, but we should have 100," he said.

Big's growth rate is 637%

The list ranks firms by revenue growth from 2003 through 2006. To qualify, the privately held companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2003, and had to show four full calendar years of sales.

Revenue in 2003 must have been at least $200,000, and revenue in 2006 must have been at least $2 million. Companies nominated themselves and were selected based on their financial information and history.

Big Communications ranked No. 457 on the Inc. list, with growth of 637.5 percent. The company posted $12.3 million in revenue last year and employs about 100 Web designers, graphic artists, audio engineers and other workers.

The company has grown 30 percent each year for the past three years and is expected to get even bigger in the next few years as baby boomers age and the health care industry grows, Oleshansky said.

RKA Petroleum grows 267%

This was the first year that RKA Petroleum Cos. in Romulus applied to be on the Inc. list.

RKA Petroleum had 267.6 percent growth, ranking No. 1,341. The company employs 120 people in Michigan and Florida and made $206.3 million last year.

And it's still growing; revenues have more than tripled so far this year compared with last year as the demand for oil and alternative energy sources grows.

"We're excited," said vice president Keith Albertie, whose grandfather established the business more than 60 years ago. "We were proud to be participating."

The companies' success is proof that Michigan is still a viable place to do business, said Bruce Weaver, an economic analyst for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

"Certainly the genesis of Michigan's employment decline is centered on issues in the auto industry," Weaver said, "but when you start looking at independent companies, there will always be instances of companies doing well."

You can reach Jennifer Youssef at (313) 222-2319 or jyoussef@detnews.com.