WARWICK – For the top earners in Providence Business News’ 2026 Fastest Growing & Innovative Companies awards program, growth means more than just a higher bottom line.
The 23 Fastest Growing companies being recognized this year had the highest percentage growth in revenue of all applicants comparing 2023 to 2025, but how a company adapts and learns each year is just as important, said Patrick Madden, co-founder of Elment2 Consulting Group, which took first place in the $2.5 to $15 million category.
Building a Strong Data Foundation in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key priority in the boardroom and across management —…
Learn More
“Are we growing internally? Are we adapting and adjusting to what we need to do to grow, not just about a dollar value,” Madden said. “We’re going to go up and going to go down but what did we learn from that experience?”
Steve Hebner, senior vice president of finance at Centreville Bank, said growth can be measured by external metrics as well.
“Growth means people moving their lives forward, buying houses, new locations opening and supporting our community and growing our investment in that community,” Hebner said. “Helping as many people as we can.”
Centreville Bank placed among the top growers in companies worth $50 million and above.
About 225 people attended Friday’s ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick. The 2026 program, which marked its 15th anniversary, honored 32 total companies and organizations, including nine for their innovative products and initiatives.
Axiotrop LLC of Narragansett took top billing in the $250,000 to $2.5 million category with a percent growth of 99.9%. Lincoln-based Element2 Consulting Group’s win in the $2.5 to $15 million set was due to a growth of 113.6%.
Vertikal6 Inc. of Warwick won the $15 to $50 million category with a percent growth of 74.4%. Of the largest companies of over $50 million, Shawmut Design and Construction led the pack at an impressive 2,120% growth.
Each company and organization will be profiled in a special section that will publish on Sept. 25.
The 2026 Fastest Growing Companies, listed in order of revenue growth percentage in groups based on 2025 revenue, are:
$250,000 to $2.5 million
- Axiotrop LLC
- Keane’s Wood Fired Catering
- Bryant Associates Inc.
- Luminous Creative Agency
- Coutu Bros. Moving and Storage
- P.R. Quinlan Associates Inc
$2.5 million to $15 million
- Element2 Consulting Group
- ClarkSilva
- Technology Advisory Group LLC
- IT Support RI
- Integrated Media Group
- Gallo | Thomas Insurance
$15 million to $50 million
- Vertikal 6 Inc.
- Mill City Construction Inc.
- DiSanto, Priest & Co.
- Westerly Community Credit Union
- Trico Specialty Films Inc.
$50 million and above
- Shawmut Design and Construction
- Ahlborg Construction Corp.
- ParsonsKellogg LLC
- Centreville Bank
- Navigant Credit Union
- Coastal1 Credit Union
The nine Innovation winners were chosen by a panel of judges for devising and producing innovative ideas and products.
The 2026 winners, listed alphabetically by category, are:
- Biotech/Life sciences: Trace Sensing Technologies
- Education: Courage Builder
- Health Innovation: NEMIC – New England Medical Innovation Center
- Nonprofits: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island
- Technology: Avidex
- Innovated Collaboration: RI Bio
- IT Services: IT Support RI
- Companies to Watch: Contract House LLC, Juiced Fuel Rhode Island
CBIZ Inc., Centreville Bank and Gallo | Thomas Insurance are partner sponsors of PBN’s 2026 Fastest Growing & Innovative Companies program.
Veer Mudambi is the special projects editor for the Providence Business News. He can be reached at mudambi@pbn.com.
