Protokraft Named 'TN Fast 50' Company by Business Tennessee Magazine for 2006; Annual Award Honors Protokraft for Exceptional Growth from 2003 to 2005

Protokraft, LLC, a leading provider of optical communication components for harsh environments, today announced that it has been named a "Tennessee Fast 50" company for 2006 by Business Tennessee Magazine. The TN Fast 50 is an annual awards program that recognizes the fastest growing companies in the state of Tennessee.

Kingsport, TN (PRWEB) August 6, 2006 -- Protokraft, LLC, a leading provider of optical communication components for harsh environments, today announced that it has been named a "Tennessee Fast 50" company for 2006 by Business Tennessee Magazine. The TN Fast 50 is an annual awards program that recognizes the fastest growing companies in the state of Tennessee.

"We see the TN Fast 50 award as an important milestone indicating that we are executing on both our product and growth plan," said Robert Scharf, co-founder and president of Protokraft. "From 2003 to 2006, our growth was driven through delivering high performance fiber optic communications components to some of the most demanding customers in the world. These customers place our components in extremely severe operating environments such as tactical missile launchers and fighting vehicles under battlefront conditions.”

“Making the TN Fast 50 list required standing out in a crowded field -- the number of companies nominated this year surpassed the total from the two previous years combined. Fast50 status is becoming a much sought after designation and source of pride for companies across Tennessee,” noted Drew Ruble, editor of Business Tennessee Magazine. “Business Tennessee’s third annual look at the 50 fastest growing companies in the Volunteer State and the individuals leading them should be required reading for any businessperson in Tennessee. At a minimum, the list provides a snapshot of some of the firms yielding the job growth and innovations that are making Tennessee’s economy surge."

With the review of independent accounting firm Kraft CPA’s, Business Tennessee Magazine selected the 50 companies with the fastest revenue growth based on self-reported data from closely held companies that submitted nomination forms. To qualify for consideration, the companies had to be privately owned, not a unit of any other company, headquartered in Tennessee, employ at least five people and generate at least $750,000 of revenue.

About Business Tennessee Magazine
Business and political decision-makers look to Business Tennessee magazine to learn what's happening throughout the state, but even more to understand it. The magazine reports on the people and issues that define Tennessee and shape its future. The magazine offers a mix of regionally based stories and reporting with statewide impact. Business Tennessee is recognized each year with national awards for excellence. In a relatively short time, Business Tennessee has made itself indispensable to Tennessee's business community. Nobody knows Tennessee like Business Tennessee.

Business Tennessee Magazine
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Phone: (615) 843-8000
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About Protokraft
Facilitating secure communications in harsh environments, Protokraft designs and manufactures high-speed optoelectronic components and subsystems for military, aerospace and other harsh environment networking equipment applications. The company provides fiber optic transceiver subsystems for short-reach (1.0 meter to 20.0 kilometer) harsh environment optical-networking connections, including optical network switches, optical enterprise and storage area networks (SAN), and tactical optical access networks. Protokraft is located in Kingsport, TN. For more information, see www.Protokraft.com or email.

Protokraft
Robert Scharf
President
2005 Venture Park
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: +1.423.578.7200
Fax: +1.423.578.7201
URL: http://www.protokraft.com

Business TN Magazine
Drew Ruble
Editor
2817 West End Ave, Ste 216
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-843-8000 ext 215
Cell: 615-828-6312
Fax: 615-843-8021
http://www.businesstn.com

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