Founded in 2014 by Chris Murphy from his Owensboro home, Fastek has achieved 199% revenue growth over the past three years, serving clients in more than 20 states. The company delivers managed IT services, advanced cybersecurity solutions, and compliance expertise to industries where data protection is critical—including financial and professional services, healthcare, and manufacturing.

“It’s an honor to represent Owensboro on a national stage,” said Murphy. “This recognition belongs to our incredible team and the clients who trust us. By putting people first—both our employees and our customers—we’ve been able to help small and mid-sized businesses navigate an increasingly complex cybersecurity and technology landscape.”

With its full-stack approach to IT and cybersecurity, Fastek helps businesses protect their data, streamline operations, and embrace digital transformation—all while providing fast, personal support from a team that understands the stakes.

The Inc. 5000 list celebrates companies that have not only grown but thrived during times of economic uncertainty, labor shortages, and rapid technological change. Past honorees include Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Under Armour, Timberland, Oracle, and Patagonia.

“Making the Inc. 5000 is always a remarkable achievement, but earning a spot this year speaks volumes about a company’s tenacity and clarity of vision,” said Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “These businesses didn’t just weather the storm—they grew through it.”

To qualify for the Inc. 5000 list, a company must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent (not a subsidiary or division of another company). It must meet a minimum revenue threshold for both the first and most recent year in the evaluation period.

The application process begins with an online submission through Inc.’s official portal, where companies provide detailed financial information, including annual revenue figures for each year in the qualifying period. Applicants must verify their data through supporting documentation—such as tax returns or audited financial statements—which is reviewed by Inc.’s verification team. Once validated, companies are ranked according to their percentage revenue growth over the three-year span.

For more information about Fastek, visit https://fastekllc.com.
For the full 2025 Inc. 5000 list, visit www.inc.com/inc5000.

Designed for entrepreneurs ready to take the next step, the event will feature a panel of local business owners who have made the leap from operating solo to building a team. Attendees will hear from Madalyn Hyland of The Skin Therapist, Alan Lawrence of Big Whiskey’s Restaurant & Bar, Kelly Harris of KW ELITE Keller Williams Realty and Chris Murphy of Fastek. These panelists will share firsthand how they navigated growth, overcame challenges, and structured their businesses for long-term success. Discussion topics will include preparing for scale, putting the right systems in place, hiring and managing teams, and leveraging collaboration and local resources to grow strategically.

“We are excited to bring together these successful business owners from our community,” said Jamie Johnson, GOEDC VP of Workforce Development, Small Business & Entrepreneurship. “They will share the unfiltered truth about what scaling actually looks like, including what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they’d known earlier.”

Jody Hulsey, Business Coach with the Kentucky SBDC, added, “This is for the business owner who feels like they’ve hit a ceiling. They have too much on their plate to manage alone, but they’re unsure what to delegate, when to hire, and how to grow with intention. This panel of local leaders will help you uncover strategies to grow with purpose and build the confidence to keep going.”

Tickets are $10 per person and include appetizers, access to the panel discussion and audience Q&A, and a printed takeaway guide featuring highlights, panelist contact info, and a list of local business growth resources. Space is limited, and registration is available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blueprint-to-scale-tickets-1564156416949?aff=oddtdtcreator

Mizkan America, Inc. (MA), announced today that it has acquired Chicago-based Zing Zang^®, America’s #1-selling Bloody Mary brand, for an undisclosed sum. Zing Zang’s portfolio includes a wide range of popular non-alcoholic drink mixes.

This acquisition will contribute significantly to Mizkan’s growth and expand its presence in the cocktail-mixers’ category, a key growth engine for the company. Also, as one of the leading pasta-sauce manufacturers in the United States, Mizkan will leverage its unique expertise in tomato-based foods to spur growth and innovation across the two organizations. This move also serves as a significant step in expanding Mizkan’s position in what the company refers to internally as “Inspired Mixology.”

“Inspired Mixology” defines Mizkan’s desire to bring together the company’s deep bench of expertise, insights and creativity, combined with the company’s leading brands, to reimagine the cocktail/mocktail experience—at home, the bar and beyond—to help consumers and professional mixologists alike create fun, flavorful and on-trend libations.

Diego Palmieri, Mizkan America President and Chief Operating Officer, shared, “Zing Zang is an exciting addition to the Mizkan family of brands. As a leader in the U.S. Pasta Sauce and Vinegar categories, this acquisition solidifies the company’s position in a growing third space. Mizkan already has strong expertise in this area as the exclusive distributor of ANGOSTURA^® bitters in North America. We see the acquisition of Zing Zang as a win-win. We think they will be an amazing collaboration partner allowing Mizkan to expand our presence in “Inspired Mixology” while also driving growth for Mizkan and creating new innovations for our customers. It’s also a terrific opportunity for Mizkan to expand our scale and scope in an on-trend category. We’re extremely thrilled to have Zing Zang join the Mizkan Team!”

Added Brent Albertson, Chief Executive Officer, Zing Zang, LLC, “I’m very excited about the opportunities for growth that will arise from the powerful combination of Mizkan and Zing Zang. By uniting our strengths and deep expertise, we’re poised to accelerate innovation, broaden our impact and deliver even greater experiences to our customers and distribution partners.”

Zing Zang offerings play across a broad spectrum of mixers. Its lineup of premium, bold-tasting products at an affordable price point is also aligned with the current trends in the category. Zing Zang products are made with real fruit and vegetable juices and natural sweeteners. The company’s full portfolio of award-winning products is available at zingzang.com.

For the foreseeable future, Zing Zang, LLC will continue to operate as a separate business from Mizkan America.

Prior to this acquisition, Zing Zang, LLC was owned by NexPhase Capital. Jefferies served as exclusive financial advisor to Zing Zang and Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP served as legal advisor. Spayne Lindsay & Co. served as financial advisor to Mizkan and Latimer LeVay Fyock, LLC served as legal advisor.

About Mizkan
Based in Mount Prospect, IL, Mizkan America, Inc., is the US operating company of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company that has been Bringing Flavor To Life^™ for more than 220 years, always guided by the company’s Two Principles (Offer customers only the finest products; and Continuously challenge the status quo). As one of the leading makers of condiments and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America maintains 12 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty Asian and food-ingredient trade channels. Since their U.S. debut in 1977, Mizkan America has experienced dramatic growth and their portfolio now includes a wide variety of vinegars, Italian and Asian sauces, cooking wines, wine reductions and sushi seasoning. Mizkan America brands include: RAGÚ^®, Bertolli^®, Holland House^®, Nakano^®, Mizkan^® and Born Simple^®. Mizkan America is also the exclusive distributor/sales agent for Angostura^® bitters in North America. For more information, go to: www.mizkan.com and www.mizkanholdings.com/en/.

About Zing Zang
Zing Zang^® is the leading Bloody Mary brand and a top non-alcoholic cocktail-mix brand in the U.S. Renowned for its premium-quality mixers, Zing Zang offers a wide range of products, including the best-selling Bloody Mary Mix, Blazing Bloody Mary Mix, Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix and an authentic Michelada Mix. Zing Zang also has an “AMAZING” lineup of mixers that includes Classic Margarita, Mango Margarita, Strawberry Margarita-Daiquiri, Sweet & Sour and Piña Colada—all made with real fruit juices and naturally sweetened without high-fructose corn syrup.