Sandra Steele, Educational Consultant

Texas A&M University - Aggie 100 List

12/02/2005

Energy, medical, computer software, construction and consulting firms top the inaugural Aggie 100 list. Canadian-based MGV Energy, which had a 357% compounded annual revenue growth rate during its most recent two-year reporting period, heads the list of the 100 fastest-growing companies owned or operated by Texas A&M University former students.

The Aggie 100 is sponsored by the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship of Texas A&M's Mays Business School and attracted more than 700 nominees in its first year.

Cumulatively, Aggie 100 firms have more than 17,000 employees and revenues in excess of $3.3 billion in 2004. They are predominately headquartered in Texas but the East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, the Rockies and Canada also are Aggie 100 homes.

"The Aggie 100 is another unique feature of Texas A&M. In addition to honoring deserving graduates, the program provides a forum for today's students to interact with and learn from successful business people," said Robert M. Gates, president, Texas A&M University. "We are proud of our former students and appreciate their willingness to give back to the university that gave them a start in their career. I'll be excited to see the list in future years as today's students put these lessons into practice."

MGV Energy, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta is run by Aggies George Voneiff '83, president and J. Michael Gatens '80, chairman and CEO. MGV Energy Inc. is a leading "unconventional gas" exploration and production company. Gatens and Voneiff founded MGV based on their vision that the unconventional gas potential in Canada was very large, and could be converted to value with the right combination of technical expertise, capital and land. MGV was formed in 1997 with Mike and George as the first two employees and now employs 110 people with an annual capital budget of $115 million.

"We are pleased to honor our successful former students and highlight their accomplishments," explained Richard M. Scruggs, director of the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship, Texas A&M University. "One thing that is clear from the list is that an A&M education is a foundation for success. Many build on their college field of study and others use their degree as a platform to launch into other fields. Regardless, our graduates make a difference in every industry and in communities around the world."

A complete list of the Aggie 100 can be viewed at http://www.aggie100.com.

For more information on the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, visit http://maysbba.tamu.edu/.

For more information on the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship in the Mays Business School, visit http://cnve.tamu.edu/.