Emerald Health Services Ranks No. 6 for Fastest Growing Private Company in Los Angeles

December 18, 2007 11:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

LOS ANGELES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Los Angeles Business Journal recently ranked Emerald Health Services the sixth fastest growing private company in Los Angeles for 2007. The recognition is in part due to the company’s rapid growth and success which has enjoyed more than 400% growth in the past three years. Founded in 2002, Emerald Health Services is a leading provider of temporary staffing solutions for the health care industry.

Mark Stagen, Founder and CEO of Emerald Health Services has been praised for his management leadership and entrepreneurial skills receiving many accolades, including Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2007 award in the Greater Los Angeles region. Mr. Stagen was also selected as one of 30 national Entrepreneur Of The Year® finalists from the approximately 300 regional 2007 Entrepreneur Of The Year® winners.

Additionally, Emerald Health Services ranked number 185 in Inc. Magazine’s 2007 ‘Inc. 500 list’ in the category of fastest growing companies in the United States for Emerald’s revenue growth which has exceeded 1,100% since 2002. Emerald Health Services’ inclusion in the Inc. 500 list only further recognizes the company’s success as a leading provider in premier temporary staffing solutions for the health care industry.

“We are extremely appreciative of the recognition Emerald has received this year. All of our success is due to our incredible employees and their hard work and dedication,” said Mark Stagen, Founder & CEO of Emerald Health Services. “Emerald’s goal has always been, and will continue to be, to provide our healthcare clients with excellent temporary staff and to provide our temporary healthcare professionals with incredible job opportunities.”

Provider of staffing for the health care industry, including doctors, nurses, therapists and other health care professionals. Founded 2002. (Marina del Rey)

Growth Rate 400%

Executive: Mark Stagen, chief executive and founder

Early Days/Financing: I had founded a company and then sold that company to a bigger company in 1999 at the height of the dot-com boom. But things didn’t turn out all that well. That company eventually went bankrupt and I lost my stake in the company. I was looking for a new business to get into, and I had heard about shortages of health care professionals. But it was tough going in the beginning; I had to use several credit cards to get the company off the ground.

Big Break: That was signing up our first major hospital, Lincoln Medical Center in downtown L.A. I was just persistent. I told them I would stop calling them every day only if they gave me a contract.

Biggest Challenges: Finding good employees to run the office and the company. Trying to convince Type A employees to work for you if you don’t have venture capital or private equity financing is very difficult. But I think our most serious challenge hit when one of our major hospital clients didn’t pay its bills, even after 180 days.

What’s Next: We already have some clients in other states, but we are going to add more through nationwide recruiting.

Sage Advice: For entrepreneurs, my advice is just start your business. Sure, do some research, but don’t get into paralysis by analysis. You have to take the plunge and work through problems as they come up. You will find that in most industries there is room for another company.

About Emerald Health Services

Emerald Health Services is a premier healthcare staffing company providing jobs to healthcare professionals throughout the nation. Founded in 2002, Emerald has been a leader in the healthcare staffing industry offering temporary staffing services to hospitals.

The company recruits the most qualified and talented healthcare professionals in the country and has established a reputation for delivering quality customer service. Emerald Health Services currently employs 650 employees and, in 2006, was named one of the largest healthcare staffing firms in the nation by Staffing Industry Analysts.

For more information about Emerald Health Service please visit the website at: www.emeraldhs.com.