According to the company, its growth has resulted from direct sales to construction companies. It has never acquired or merged with another company since Mark Dexter and John Chaney founded the firm in 1981. Chaney, president and co-founder, explained that continuous updates to Forefront are a key reason for the company's steady increase in revenues.

"Many of the 840 new functions and features in the latest version of Forefront resulted from suggestions from our customers," said Chaney. "More than 1,000 construction companies throughout the United States rely on Forefront to manage their operations. Their suggestions for Forefront are vital to their success - and ours."

The company said Forefront Version 12 offers a SQL database structure, a tool for organizing and retrieving data, which is designed to benefit construction companies of all sizes as they grow. It also features a Web portal designed to give a construction company's employees and customers access to critical data and functions in Forefront - including payroll and equipment entry as well as customer service - from any computer with an Internet connection.

"Sustaining high revenue growth through five years is an exceptional accomplishment," said Larry Hile, a partner in Deloitte's Seattle office. "We commend Dexter + Chaney for making the commitment to technology and delivering on the promise of market longevity. We are proud to honor Dexter + Chaney as a Deloitte Technology Fast 50 winner."

To qualify for the Technology Fast 50, companies must have had operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 2000 and $1 million in 2004, be headquartered in Washington, and be a "technology company," defined as a company that owns proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues or devotes a significant proportion of revenues to research and development of technology. Using other companies' technology in a unique way does not qualify.

Publication date: 10/10/2005