FAST 25: Thomas P. Miller and Associates LLC

Revenue Growth FY 2014 to 2016: 155%

Thomas Miller says the firm’s growth can be attributed in part to an expansion into K-12 and higher education. (IBJ file photo)

Extending core competencies: When Tom Miller started his consulting firm in 1989, it was with the thought that the most important aspect of economic development and economic growth is workforce development. So the firm partnered with municipal and state governments and not-for-profits such as local economic development groups. It still does that, but in the last five years, it has fine-tuned its approach to extend into K-12 education systems, community colleges and higher ed. That expansion and “bringing on some great talent that’s able to be nimble, flexible and has figured out how to deliver high-quality work” accounts for the firm’s growth, Miller said.

In Indiana: Miller said about half the company’s work is done in state. It has been working to extend Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to all parts of the state. “Indianapolis is doing a tremendous job with technology. How do we extend opportunities beyond Indianapolis?”

Elsewhere: Miller and Associates’ work takes it across the country. In Kentucky, its consultants have been working to help the workforce in coal country transition to new opportunities. Miller said that in some part of eastern Kentucky, they’ve focused on broadband as a critical factor in economic development. They’ve also been working in Oregon for 3-4 years to retool the workforce for new industries and opportunities. And in Massachusetts, they’ve worked with a coalition of community colleges to create career pathways so that students pursuing additional education and certificates can move into jobs.

Common denominator among clients: The organizations, communities and states the firm works with are looking to see where they should be going and how they can enhance what’s being done. “It’s easier to make a difference,” Miller said, “when you’re working with clients who want to make a difference.”

In a good place: Miller said he and his colleagues find the work they do gratifying. “We’re really fortunate. It all boils down to us to high-quality work, transformational and impactful work, whether that’s impactful on communities or people who need jobs or businesses that need help. We try to make a difference.”•

Check out more of IBJ’s ranking of central Indiana's fastest-growing private companies.