INDIANAPOLIS | Falk-PLI Engineering & Surveying in Portage made the state's "50 Companies to Watch" list Monday.

The surveying and engineering firm, established in 1995, made the cut of top privately held businesses with up to 150 employees. The Indiana Economic Development Corp., Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation whittled the list from more than 420 nominations.

"There is no better story to tell than that of a homegrown Hoosier company that continues to grow and create new jobs," Gov. Mitch Daniels said Monday in a statement. "We're committed to creating the best business environment we can so these 50 Companies to Watch and all the businesses across our state continue to succeed in today's global economy."

Falk-PLI specializes in industrial surveying and measurement. The company says its embrace of cutting-edge technology, including lasers, has helped broaden its customer base, both in the region and across the country.

"We are honored to be recognized in this inaugural effort," said Mike Falk, president of Falk-PLI. "While we are known for our technology, we strive to be problem solvers: helping our clients understand the scope of work needed, recommending solutions beyond our product offerings and training our clients to utilize our equipment and improving maintenance practices so that we are no longer needed on the job."

The 50 firms to watch will be honored Aug. 27 during a ceremony in Indianapolis. For most, it won't be a long haul. Twenty of the 50 companies to watch are based in the state capital, and another five are located in the Indianapolis suburbs of Carmel, Greenwood and Noblesville.

COMPANY

PRIMARY BUSINESS

LOCATION

AIT Laboratories

Testing laboratory

Indianapolis

ANGEL Learning Inc.

Education software

Indianapolis

Backhaul Direct LLC

Freight transportation logistics

Indianapolis

ChaCha

Mobile answers service

Carmel

CIM Technology Solutions

Telecommunications integration

Columbus

Compendium Software LLC

Blog search engine

Indianapolis

Cook Biotech Inc.

Biotechnology R&D

West Lafayette

Custom Mechanical Systems Corp.

General contractor

Bargersville

Daman Products Co. Inc.

Hydraulic valve machinery

Mishawaka

DyKnow LLC

Educational software

Indianapolis

Elona Biotechnologies Inc.

Biotechnology R&D

Greenwood

Endocyte Inc.

Biotechnology R&D

West Lafayette

Exacq Technologies Inc.

Video surveillance software

Indianapolis

ExaroMed Inc.

Life sciences marketing

Carmel

eXcellon Technologies Inc.

Electronics engineering

Fort Wayne

Falk-PLI Engineering & Surveying

Industrial engineering

Portage

Hamilton Exhibits LLC

Event displays and marketing

Indianapolis

Helmer Inc.

Laboratory equipment

Noblesville

Indianapolis Jet Center

Aircraft servicing

Indianapolis

Information in Place Inc.

Training software

Bloomington

Intercambio Express Inc.

Financial services

Goshen

JFNew & Associates

Ecological consulting

Walkerton

Kountry Wood Products LLC

Cabinetry construction

Nappanee

Langham Logistics Inc.

Supply-chain management

Indianapolis

Lenex Steel Co.

Steel construction materials

Indianapolis

LGC Associates LLC

Staffing services

Carmel

MainGate Inc.

Sports merchandising, marketing

Indianapolis

Micropulse Inc.

Medical devices

Columbia City

Midwest Toxicology Services Inc.

Testing laboratory

Indianapolis

Midwest Tube Mills Inc.

Steel tubing products

Madison

Mursix Corp.

Metal-stamping machinery

Muncie

Next Wave Systems LLC

Defense system R&D

Pekin

NTsupply.com

Online building products

Indianapolis

Officescape Inc.

Business service center

Indianapolis

Orthodynamics Co. Inc.

Medical device brokerage

Noblesville

Oxygen Education LLC

Training software

Indianapolis

POLARIS Laboratories LLC

Testing laboratory

Indianapolis

Premiere Credit of North America LLC

Financial services

Indianapolis

ProCure Treatment Centers

Cancer treatment center

Bloomington

Professional Consultants Inc.

Engineering services

Evansville

Quadraspec Inc.

Laboratory equipment

West Lafayette

Reel Time Logistics Inc.

Freight transportation logistics

Terre Haute

Sensory Technologies

Telecommunications integration

Indianapolis

Simulex Inc.

Simulation software

West Lafayette

The South Bend Chocolate Co.

Chocolates and confectionaries

South Bend

T2 Systems Inc.

Parking management software

Indianapolis

Univertical Corp.

Metal-plating chemicals

Angola

VMS

Event planning, interactive media

Indianapolis

Warm Glow Candle Co.

Candle making and sales

Centerville

Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems

Defense system R&D

Anderson