If you're in the technology world, ya gotta love the Utah100 as once again the No. 1 company in the Utah100 is a technology firm.
      That was the word at last week's awards luncheon held in the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City where Draper-based iboats.com garnered the top position in this year's annual ranking of top percentage growth companies in the state.
      For 10 straight years the MountainWest Venture Group (MWVG) has solicited financial data from companies in the state in an effort to monitor and honor fast-growing companies headquartered in Utah. (Disclaimer: I have been a long-time supporter of the MWVG and served as a board member of the organization when the Utah100 program was conceived and first launched.)
      Companies are ranked within the annual Utah100 listing by the MWVG based on percentage sales growth, with this year's ranking based upon the five-year period from 1999-2003.
      To be eligible, companies had to be Utah-based U.S. organizations with a minimum of $50,000 in sales in 1999, with average corporate growth rate of 1,228 percent among companies included in this year's Utah100.
      It is interesting to note that the 37 technology firms included in the 2003 Utah100 ranking represents a more than 15 percent increase from the 32 information technology enterprises making the list in 2003.
      In fact, four of this year's top five companies are IT firms, with each top five finisher generating an average growth rate of 10,000 percent during the five-year span.
      At the same time, the number of life science firms making the list held steady eight firms in total, matching last year's total of two life science enterprises in the 2003 Utah100 ranking.
      Joining iboats.com in this year's Utah100 list are the following technology firms. Note that firms are listed below by ranking (with number of times on the Utah100 list, if appropriate), headquarter location, stock symbol (if appropriate), and Web address, if one exists.

      2. Overstock.com (4 times), Salt Lake City, www.overstock.com
      3. STSN (2 times), Midvale, www.stsn.com
      4. Hobbytron.com, Orem, www.hobbytron.com
      6. FatPipe Networks, Salt Lake City, www.fatpipeinc.com
      10. Altiris (2 times), Lindon, www.altiris.com
      11. Infopia (2 times), Salt Lake City, www.infopia.com
      12. Q Comm International (3 times), Orem, www.qcomm.com
      14. Technology Solutions Group, Woods Cross, www.tsg-corp.com
      19. KLAS Enterprises, Orem, www.healthcomputing.com
      22. IKANO Communications (5 times), Salt Lake City, www.ikano.com
      23. CORDA Technologies, Lindon, www.corda.com
      24. UCN, Draper, www.ucn.net
      30. EnvironMax (2 times), Salt Lake City, www.environmax.com
      31. Omniture (3 times), Orem, www.omniture.com
      36. NovaRad, American Fork, www.novarad.net
      37. StarBridge Systems, Midvale, www.starbridgesystems.com
      38. Inovar, Logan (3 times), www.inovar-inc.com
      40. FutureVision Technologies (2 times), Midvale, www.fvtech.com
      41. Odyssey Web, Salt Lake City, www.odysseyweb.com
      42. Viranim Technologies 2 times), Layton, www.viranim.com
      48. WestHost, Providence, www.westhost.com
      53. Apex EDI, Pleasant Grove, www.apexedi.com
      54. Automated Business Products (3 times), Salt Lake City, www.abpweb.com
      56. ConsultNet, Salt Lake City (4 times), www.consult-net.com
      67. American Pioneer Financial Services (3 times), Bluffdale, www.lowratesusa.com
      68. NetVision (3 times), Orem, www.netvision.com
      69. TimeShareWare, Kaysville, www.timeshareware.com
      71. GoEngineer (3 times), Salt Lake City, www.goengineer.com
      74. Prototyping Management (2 times), Riverton, www.pmcworldwide.com
      76. O'Currance Teleservices (2 times), Salt Lake City, www.ocurrance.com
      82. Burton Group (3 times), Midvale, www.tbg.com
      85. Process Instruments (2 times), Salt Lake City, www.process-instruments-inc.com
      86. Newonics, West Valley City, www.newonics.com
      93. Juniper Systems, North Logan, www.junipersys.com
      94. BC Technical, West Jordan, www.bctechnical.com

      In addition, here is the breakout of the eight life science firms that made it into this year's Utah100 ranking.

      18. Echelon Biosciences, Salt Lake City, www.echelon-inc.com
      47. Ortho Development (2 times), Draper, www.odev.com
      49. Career Step (4 times), Springville, www.careerstep.com
      62. TruVision (3 times), South Jordan, www.truvision.com
      79. SONIC innovations (2 times), Salt Lake City, www.sonicinnovations.com
      80. CompHealth Group (2 times), Salt Lake City, www.comphealth.com
      82. NPS Pharmaceuticals, Salt Lake City, www.npspharmaceuticals.com
      96. Myriad Genetics, Salt Lake City, www.myriad.com

      On a totally different note, in the midst of the craziness of this election season, there is one ballot measure that I feel deserves serious consideration by all those in the high-tech industries. Specifically I'm referring to proposed revisions to the second amendment of the state constitution, also known as Amendment 2.
      As described online at elections.utah.gov/Voter%20Information%20Pamphlet_web.pdf (starting at page 32), the proposed revisions to Amendment 2 would make it legal for Utah's colleges and universities to accept an ownership position in a company (such as shares of stock) in exchange for the rights to intellectual property developed by the state or at a state institution of higher education.
      To me, this is a "no brainer" vote, as highlighted by the fact that the state's official Voter Information Pamphlet contains no "Argument Against" passage of the proposed changes to Amendment 2.
      In fact, the potential benefits for making such "investments" legal — particularly in a technology transfer situation — make this an obvious vote as far as I am concerned.
      Hence, if you plan on voting on November 2, vote in favor of enacting the proposed changes to Amendment 2.