
The Geek Squad isn't timid about playing the nerd card. A business unit of consumer electronics retailer Best Buy, it provides consumers with technical and on-site technical support services for computers and electronics. Customers can also bring their technology problems to Best Buy locations or one of the six stand-alone Geek Squad stores stores for help. In addition to computer services, Geek Squad installs and supports home theater systems and car electronics. Founded in 1994 by University of Minnesota computer science drop out Robert Stephens, the company distinguished itself by dressing technical personal in nerdtastic ensembles featuring highwater pants and white socks. Best Buy bought Geek Squad in 2003.

ARi is a leading provider of integrated engineering solutions and a market leader in engine and powertrain testing. We partner with top OEMs in Off Highway, as well as some of today’s industry leaders in Automotive, Aerospace and Industrial Manufacturing. Anchored by our four disciplines in systems, design, controls and testing, ARi’s power of “i” represents the innovation, intelligence, ingenuity and insight that differentiates us from our competition. Powered by the strength of our people, process and technology, market leaders turn to ARi to cost effectively deliver complex solutions to their most challenging requirements. Today ARi employs over 1,000 engineers world-wide, representing multiple nationalities and countries with office locations in North America and India.

The WhiteStar Corporation provides mapping data products and services to the oil and gas, pipeline, natural resource and engineering industries. The company has developed a cartographic database for the entire state of Texas, among other products. WhiteStar's software serves as an extension of the ArcGIS applications marketed by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), one of the top companies in the geographic information systems (GIS) market. The company has worked with Cambe Geological Services, Landmark Graphics, and other firms to develop detailed maps. WhiteStar began as a digital cartography business in 1990. The company is owned by its officers.

So you need to mow the back 40? Agri-Fab has the tools to get the job done. Since 1973, the company has manufactured lawn and garden attachments for tractors and in recent years for three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Among its lineup of rust-resistant tow-behind lawngrooming equipment are sweepers, aerators, carts, levelers, and mowers. Agri-Fab operates a 350,000-sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Illinois. Its products are sold through select dealers, such as the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Lowe's, Sears, and True Value. The company's customers also can order replacement parts through its website.
It's simple -- CIMTEK provides the tools manufacturers need to build a quality product at a lower cost. The company's quality lifecycle management (QLM) and test systems let manufacturers inspect wares during product design and production phases. Its Magellon QLM software allows data to be collected from global locations for real-time analysis of development, testing, repair, and launch. The company also offers test system development software and QLM consulting services. CIMTEK partners with such vendors as Agilent, Cognex, and National Instruments. Its systems are used in the automotive, avionic, consumer, medical, and telecom markets. The company has offices in Canada, China, Mexico, the UK, and the US.