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Tyler Long, CEO of The Access Group of Companies, is named 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year
Tyler Long, CEO of The Access Group of Companies, was named Entrepreneur of the Year by CatalystMag.com during its annual ceremony honoring the Top 25 Entrepreneurs and Ones to Watch. CatlaystMag.com teamed up with Atlanta-based accounting and advisory firm Gifford, Hillgass & Ingwersen, LLP to celebrate Atlanta’s leading entrepreneurs. Tyler’s success GH & I, a nationally ranked, full-service accounting, audit, business advisory, tax and financial planning service provider, has been a partner with Catalyst since the award’s inception.
This particular year there was a surge in nominees, making the award all the more significant. GH & I independently evaluated and verified the information submitted by the nominees and rated them on “year over year” revenue growth during 2005-2007. The companies were also judged on sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Long’s company experienced an impressive average annual growth of 195% over the previous three years which shone a light on his vision, leadership style and business savvy. “All of those honored, and especially Long, embody the commitment, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit needed to be the leader of a successful enterprise” said CatalystMag.com Associate Publisher and Editor, Drew Ermenc.
Atlanta Business Chronicle honors US Work Alliance dba Exam Services as one of Atlanta’s 50 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in 2008
The Atlanta Business Chronicle is part of the Business Journal’s Network featuring local business and industry news from 41 different markets around the nation, along with a wide array of tools to help business owners and operators manage their businesses more successfully.
Each year the publication recognizes the 50 fastest growing companies in the 20-county metro Atlanta area, the Pacesetters. This year, the nominees had to be established first quarter 2005 and have a two-year growth in sales of more than 50%, with 2007 revenues between $1 million and $300 million.
Based on an index growth figure, US Work Alliance dba Exam Services was ranked #10 in the list of the 50 Fastest Growing Companies. At the time of the award, Tyler’s group of companies was being rebranded to The Access Group of Companies including Access Payment Solutions, Access Career Development and Access Business Services.
Tyler Long is Presented with Crystal Magazine’s 2007 Trailblazer Award
Crystal Magazine, a global publication with a focus on everyday issues for a worldwide community including entertainment, fashion, celebrity news, health and fitness, and youth issues. The magazine also served as a lifestyle guide.
Tyler was honored with the Trailblazer Award for being a pioneer in developing the complete individual at his company. In addition to the normal training programs companies typically deploy to improve employee competencies and morale, Tyler realized the importance of developing one’s self worth and addressing everyday life issues outside of work.
To that end, Tyler formed the Corporate Chaplaincy Program. This program is a partnership with Exam Services and Coach Speaks Ministries, which provided daily access to a non-denominational chaplain offering professional, family and personal guidance.
Coach Ken Woods, along with his wife, held daily devotionals in the morning where employees could voluntarily attend for fellowship. They also made themselves available for individual counseling as well. The existence of the Corporate Chaplaincy Program resulted in a decline in employee stress levels and employee absences, and improved morale overall. The program was an indispensable component to the company’s impressive growth and sustained profitability. But the most important outcome was the development of the individual employee and the many accomplishments that will come about as a result of programs like the Corporate Chaplaincy Program.
Atlanta Business Chronicle honors US Work Alliance dba Exam Services as one of Atlanta’s 50 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in 2008
The Atlanta Business Chronicle is part of the Business Journal’s Network featuring local business and industry news from 41 different markets around the nation, along with a wide array of tools to help business owners and operators manage their businesses more successfully.
Each year the publication recognizes the 50 fastest growing companies in the 20-county metro Atlanta area, the Pacesetters. This year, the nominees had to be established first quarter 2005 and have a two-year growth in sales of more than 50%, with 2007 revenues between $1 million and $300 million.
Based on an index growth figure, US Work Alliance dba Exam Services was ranked #10 in the list of the 50 Fastest Growing Companies. At the time of the award, Tyler’s group of companies was being rebranded to The Access Group of Companies including Access Payment Solutions, Access Career Development and Access Business Services.
Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Honors Tyler Long with the 2008 Pinnacle Small Business Award for US Work Alliance dba Exam Services
Exam Services was selected from more than 300 nominations as one of Gwinnett’s Top 25 Pinnacle Small Business Award Winners. Presented by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the 6th largest chamber in the Southeast United States and one of the top three metro chambers in the country, this award is their most prestigious and highest award they give.
The Gwinnett Chamber presents this award in recognition of both emerging and established small businesses that have demonstrated steady growth, profitability, overcoming adversity, demonstrated community leadership, showcased innovative products or services, and entrepreneurial development.
For the three-year performance period of 2005-2007, Exam Services produced an impressive $5.8 million in sales in its first year. Second year revenues grew 372%, and another 24% in the third year. During this time, the company also created over 450 jobs. Exam Services grew to a $30 million dollar a year business in less than 24 months. The judges were also proud of the company’s incredible generosity and strategic plan for giving back to the community. Exam Services utilizes a local, national and global design and all three plans are backed by additional support from the employees.
The LOCAL plan revolves around Stars4Life, an organization dedicated to teaching life skills to young adults for off the court use, while participating in sports activities on the court.
The NATIONAL plan involves working with the Alliance Defense Fund, a national organization founded to preserve our First Amendment liberty to practice the free exercise of religion.
And the GLOBAL plan involves a partnership with inJesus Global Missions which builds orphanages and hospitals in remote areas of Africa.
During this three-year period, Exam Services donated over $1 million dollars to these organizations which is unprecedented with a company this young.
Access Payment Solutions Secures Rare Partnership with Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce is the 6th largest chamber in the Southeastern United States and one of the top three metro chambers in the country. In an unprecedented move, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce gives a rare endorsement to Access Payment Solutions as their preferred credit card processing company.
Access Payment Solutions is a rising star in the merchant services industry, providing a comprehensive array of competitively priced payment solutions for businesses with an unequalled commitment to excellence, integrity and customer service.
This partnership, facilitated by the CEO/Founder Tyler Long, marks a historical union as the Chamber has only had two other partners, Home Depot and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Access Payment Solutions will now leverage its technologies and expertise to provide the chamber, and its more than 2,700 members, exceptional payment processing services at a rate previously unavailable to each customer individually.
“We understand our members need for electronic payment processing will continue to grow and are tapping into the technologies and expertise of Access Payment Solutions to give our members big business benefits that they would not have without the Chamber”” said Vince DeSilva, Vice President of Member Services for the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.
Atlanta Business Chronicle honors US Work Alliance dba Exam Services as one of Atlanta’s 50 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in 2008
The Atlanta Business Chronicle is part of the Business Journal’s Network featuring local business and industry news from 41 different markets around the nation, along with a wide array of tools to help business owners and operators manage their businesses more successfully.
Each year the publication recognizes the 50 fastest growing companies in the 20-county metro Atlanta area, the Pacesetters. This year, the nominees had to be established first quarter 2005 and have a two-year growth in sales of more than 50%, with 2007 revenues between $1 million and $300 million.
Based on an index growth figure, US Work Alliance dba Exam Services was ranked #10 in the list of the 50 Fastest Growing Companies. At the time of the award, Tyler’s group of companies was being rebranded to The Access Group of Companies including Access Payment Solutions, Access Career Development and Access Business Services.
Tyler Long Inducted into the National Register of Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals (2005-2006)
Two decades of proven success in the area of sales led to Tyler Long’s inclusion in the National Register of Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals.
His career in sales began in high school when he sold magazines door to door and his love for the industry propelled him into a very successful 8-year stint with Xerox Corporation, and ultimately into becoming an entrepreneur and consultant, with a focus on merchant services and call centers.
Tyler founded his first merchant services business in 2001, and grew it successfully for several years. In late 2006, he launched Access Payment Solutions where he serviced over 1,000 clients and processed approximately 150 million dollars in volume annually.
Recognition in this highly successful publication includes Executives, Professionals and Business Owners with high levels of success and is compiled so participating members are listed according to industry profession.
Sterling Payment Technologies Honors Access Payment Solutions as 2008 Rookie of the Year
Sterling Payment Technologies is a full-service provider of electronic payment processing services, including credit, debit, fleet, gift card, electronic benefit transfer (EBT), and checks.
Since its inception in 2001, Sterling Payment Technologies believes in making technology a leading reason for sales partners to use their company and for merchants to process with them.
Access Payment Solutions acts as a bridge between Sterling Payment Technologies and the merchant, negotiating on behalf of the merchant to secure the lowest processing rates, and often times obtaining upgraded technology for use by the merchant.
Due to the high volume of business acquired by the organization, and the ability of Tyler Long CEO/Founder to demonstrate a continued path of excellence, Sterling Payment Technologies recognizes Access Payment Solutions as the 2008 Rookie of the Year.
Vistage Member since 2007
Vistage is for the CEO who understands that “All of us, are smarter than any one of us”, and that the collective wisdom of your peers, properly applied, can be your company’s most valued asset in our changing and uncertain economy.
Tyler is a loyal and engaged member and benefits from the input of his fellow members, which serve as a silent board of directors.
Vistage, founded in 1957, is a peer-to-peer membership organization for CEOs, business owners, and executives of small to mid-size businesses. It has more than 14,000 CEO members in 15 countries making it the largest CEO organization in the world.
The members meet monthly in groups with up to 15 other executives from non-competing businesses and usually kick off with a speaker who presents a three hour seminar on business strategies. The remainder of the meeting is focused on processing issues, where members discuss their business problems and other members offer resolutions.
Vistage provides its members with fresh ideas, unbiased advice, and proven results. During a recent analysis, it was proven that Vistage CEO member companies in the United States significantly outperformed the average Dun & Bradstreet company over the last five years.