Bellevue-based Red Arrow Logistics has been named one of the top 50 fastest-growing, women-led businesses in North America by the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO).

Founded in 2003 by Liz Lasater, a local resident who is originally from Texas, Red Arrow has grown tremendously since its debut as a third-party logistics provider.

According to Lasater, the company grew 32 percent during the 2009 recession, a time when most other businesses were struggling just to stay afloat. The company’s gross revenue climbed from $500,000 in 2005 to $4.5 million in 2009.

“What I found is that there is a big disconnect between the quality of service and the relationships that were being developed between customers and service providers,” says Lasater, who is CEO of the company. “We work with about 200 core carriers, and we’re on the phone with our customers day in and day out.”

This hands-on, personal approach is what Lasater believes to be a defining characteristic of Red Arrow.

“It’s a very simple model in my mind – just answer the phone when it rings,” she says.

Prior to founding Red Arrow, Lasater was involved in senior management for a number of other corporations including SeaLand Logistics and APL Logistics, providing her with knowledge in the areas of operations, information systems and supply chain execution.

In order to make the WPO’s list, businesses must be privately owned as well as being women-owned or led, must have generated $500,000 in annual revenue in 2004, and must have had an annual revenue of at least $2 million by the end of 2009.

“What we do is reach out all over North America, not only in the U.S., but also in Canada so we reach as many women as we can,” says Marsha Firestone, Founder and President of the WPO.

According to Firestone, 68 percent of this year’s women in the Top 50 list own between 90 and 100 percent of their companies.

“They want to keep ownership because women seek power and they don’t often get it, and once they do get it, they don’t want to let go of it,” she says.

Red Arrow works with Fortune 100 companies and many others with fast-growing supply chains, providing logistics and transportation services.

“Overall, I had a very good experience with them; very professional and helpful, and cost effective in getting the services we needed at a reasonable price,” says Eno Yliniemi of the Seattle Monorail Services, who used the aid of Red Arrow this past fall and winter in the transportation of materials for the replacement of a high-voltage power rail.

The reliability Red Arrow provides to their client companies has ultimately earned them a 95 percent customer satisfaction rating.

In addition to running Red Arrow, Lasater is also an active participant in the community. In the company’s work with the Sophia Way, a Bellevue Women’s shelter, 45 women from the streets have been moved into their own homes in just one year, says Lasater.

“We have donated computers, software and financials to help get them up and running.  I am really proud of what our success is able to contribute to our local community in terms of time, materials and money,” she says.

After so much success, Lasater sees even more opportunities for the future of her thriving company.

“We’re expanding internationally so we want to create value for our clients and employees, and expand our service offerings which could include air freight, international capability, or building more competencies,” she says.

One thing that will likely remain constant within this business is the importance of customer satisfaction, which Lasater believes to be one of the traits setting Red Arrow apart from other major businesses.

“We build a confidence with our customers so when we say we’re going to do something, we do it.”

Katie Smith is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.