Describing an important lesson he once learned, James M. Benham says, "Treat everyone you meet as though they will have a direct impact on the outcome of your life."

That wisdom led, in part, to the formation of JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., a company providing software development, graphic design, web design and development, and 3-D animation services with more than 30 employees located in the U.S., Canada, and Argentina.

The company's first customers-and the impetus for becoming a business-were contacts Benham made while attending Texas A&M University. While serving as information management officer for the Corps of Cadets, he met former students who would later hire him to perform work on information systems for their businesses.

The customer base was built by tapping further into the Aggie network, and later expanding to include advertising agencies. Client contacts eventually led to public speaking engagements for Benham across the nation.

Benham attributes the sustained growth of JB Knowledge to "taking care of people, paying bills on time, and networking with people who share his business philosophies."

And while Benham admits feeling honored to be recognized among the fastest-growing small businesses in the Brazos Valley, what makes him most proud: "My team, for working so hard to achieve it."