SLEDGE ENGINEERING, founded by former Fairfield resident was named recently to the Aggie 100. Pictured are, l-r, Dr. Richard Lester of Texas A&M University and Casey Sledge. A Fairfield high school and Texas A&M University graduate, Casey Sledge was honored recently when his company, Sledge Engineering, was named to the Aggie 100.

The Aggie 100 honors the fastest-growing companies in the world that are owned or operated by an A&M former student.

Sledge Engineering was recognized as number 65 on this year's list of 100 honorees.

The company is a professional engineering and planning firm founded in 2004 by Sledge when he recognized that city and county governments needed help designing and building capital projects.

The firm focuses on all aspects of project management and offers a service of hiring and recruiting design firms for clients across Texas.

Sledge attributes the company's growth to its ability to "work for free."

"We have actually been able to save more than our cost in every project we have been involved in, but we are most proud of simply improving projects and saving taxpayer money," the business founder says.

To be eligible for the Aggie 100, firms must have been in business for at least five years.

"We are very excited to be nominated and make the list in our first eligible year," Sledge says.

The 100 Aggie-owned or managed companies with the highest compound annual revenue from 2006-2008 were recognized at a formal luncheon at the university early this month.

"Texas A&M University and the Mays Business School's Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship have built a tradition of pride among former students who have been named to the 2009 Aggie 100, as well as those who have made it at any point in our history," Dr. Richard H. Lester, executive director of the new ventures center, says.

"We are extremely proud to honor such fine businesses honored and even more proud that they speak to the legacy of the values Texas A&M instills in all of our students," Lester adds.

Sledge Engineering is based in Taylor.