3 Phoenix-area businesses make Inc. magazine list of best-led companies

PHOENIX – A trio of metro Phoenix midsize businesses worked their way onto a national magazine’s inaugural list of best-led companies in the country.

Chandler-bound computer tech company Viavi Solutions led the Valley contingent on Inc. magazine’s compilation at No. 98, followed by Phoenix cannabis operator 4Front Ventures at No. 193. Mesa traffic-enforcement tech firm Verra Mobility was No. 211.

The magazine called the 250 public and private midsize companies “the unsung heroes of the U.S. economy,” noting that combined they employed 35 million people and created over 540,000 jobs.

The data-driven list was released in November. Companies had to have revenues of $50 million to $2 billion and were analyzed for talent, leadership, performance and value creation and market penetration and customer engagement.

More than 10,000 firms were studied.

Viavi announced in February it was moving from California’s Bay Area to the East Valley city and has temporarily set up shop in Scottsdale while the production site is being built.

Viavi manufactures network test equipment and offers monitoring for communication service providers.

4Front Ventures’ website says it owns, operates or manages cultivation and production and retail facilities in five states.

Verra says it provides “integrated technology to manage tolls, violations and vehicle registrations” for rental car companies and red-light and speeding cameras for more than 200 local governments and school districts around the world.

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