21 newcomers — many in food industry— pepper listv

by LEON LAING
and AMY S. DiNUNZIO
s
[email protected]
[email protected]
Twenty-one companies, most of which are in the food industry, were hungry to be on this year’s list of the Top 100 Privately Held Companies. While the companies are making their inaugural appearance on the Business Journal’s list, they have been around for many years. Here are the three top-ranked newcomers to our list for 2002:
Richland Partners
In 1941, Carlos R. Leffler borrowed $380 from his father to invest in a delivery truck. After he bought the truck, Leffler used it to transport milk, fertilizer, coal and fuel. In its 60th year, Richland Partners Inc. recorded $80 million in revenue.
Richland Partners, doing business as Carlos R. Leffler Inc., ranks No. 28 on the list of private companies. The company sells heating oil and installs and services air conditioners. Richland Partners, based in Richland, Lebanon County, serves more than 40,000 customers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware.
Kalas Manufacturing Inc.
Kalas Manufacturing Inc. tied with Richland Partners for 28th place. Kalas Manufacturing, Denver, manufactures wire and cable products at its three plants. The plants, all of which are in Denver, occupy about 275,000 square feet. Kalas Manufactuing had $80 million in 2001 revenue and employs 280 people. Richard Witmer is president of the company; Steven Heisey, vice president of operations; and Dennis Melnyk, chief financial officer.
Established in 1958, the family-owned business has a Web site at www.kalaswire.com.
Cumberland Valley Motors
For the past 30 years, there has been more than one lot full of cars available for sale at Cumberland Valley Motors, doing business as CVM Autopark. Located along Carlisle Pike between Mechanicsburg and Carlisle, the dealership sells new and used cars, ranging from foreign-made BMWs and Volkswagens to American-made Dodge cars and trucks.
The CVM Autopark dealerships, which also sell Chrysler, Jeep and Subaru models, provide parts and service, too.
R. Garth Ullom is the president of CVM Autopark. William S. Miller is the general manager. The company employs 102 people and has $68.8 million in 2001 revenue, ranking this newcomer 34th on the list.