At his core, Freddy Vasquez is a storyteller.
The founder and self-styled “big cheese” of FXV Digital Design, Wyomissing, takes pride in his company’s use of unique narrative flair to showcase the best of what clients have to offer.
“Technically we’re a digital marketing agency but I like to think we’re more into storytelling,” Vasquez said. “Marketing is just a tool we use to help us do that.”
The company’s approach has been a resounding success, enabling FXV to clinch the number one spot in the 2025 Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s Business Excellence Awards.
The Business Excellence awards rank Berks County companies according to annual revenue growth, factoring in the percentage and dollar amount.
FXV placed first in the awards’ small business category, which features the top ten companies with revenue over $250,000.
Vasquez, a 25-year veteran in the marketing arena, said he first brought FXV to Berks in 2016.
“I was a one-man team for years,” Vasquez said. “Now, we’re a staff of seven strong.”
Hiring experts in areas like directing, editing and graphic design has enabled FXV to elevate clients’ digital presence across custom-made websites and social media, all bolstered by carefully crafted videos, photography and more.
“We have brands like Delaware Propane where we went there with our whole staff to take video B-roll, take photos, allow us to build them a website with zero stock photography,” Vasquez said. “Little things like that…(tell) a story that you care, that you really respect your brand at such a high level that there’s no doubt in a customer’s mind that you will take care of them. We try to put that kind of vibe out.”
Their efforts have led to a year-over-year revenue growth of over 100% from FXV’s first year to the second.
This year, the company is projected to increase its revenue by as much as 35% over 2024, Vasquez said.
“I think it’ll be our first seven-figure year this year,” Vasquez said. “As a marketing company that started with me, I was just happy when I made like $20,000…From doing my first six-figure year, to almost seven now, it’s pretty wild.”
He said FXV now works with anywhere from 100 to 200 clients at a time.
“I think always having a high brand elevation, always doing things to the best of our ability, is why we get the clients we get,” Vasquez said. “If you want to be elite, and have your brand stand above all else, you call us. That’s what we represent.”
Second place in the awards’ small business category went to Our Konnection LLC., a translation company that offers tailored document translation and language interpretation services.
Our Konnection calls itself a collection of parents, professionals and global citizens that aims to unite cultures and foster understanding through the power of language.
The company was founded in the Dominican Republic by Arturo Bobea.
Bobea said his company grew 40% during its first year, and 26% last year.
“Grit and adaptation have been the key factors in our growth,” Bobea said. “No matter the service or product sold, showing up and constantly adjusting the sails is what keeps a business moving forward.”
Large business winners
In the awards’ large business category, which features the top 50 companies with revenues over $1 million, first place went to American Crane & Equipment Corp., a crane manufacturer based in Amity Township, Berks County.
American Crane was ranked ninth on the GRCA’s 2024 awards list and was unranked in 2023.
The company bills itself as a leading manufacturer of overhead crane systems, hoists, and material-handling equipment for over 50 years.
Second place went to Reading Truck Equipment LLC, headquartered in Reading, a leading manufacturer, distributor and outfitter of work-truck bodies and equipment.
“Over the last few years, we’ve significantly expanded our footprint, growing to 25 locations through three strategic acquisitions,” said Richell Bard, Reading Truck chief of staff. “These purchases, which essentially doubled our revenue over the last 3 years, reflect our commitment to growth and innovation and have established the Reading brand nationwide.”
Business Excellence Awards
The Greater Reading Business Excellence Awards are meant to honor the area’s most dynamic for-profit businesses.
“This ranking is intended to recognize both large and small companies which have, and will continue to have, a positive influence on the future of Greater Reading,” the GRCA said on its website.
The awards are a collaboration between the GRCA and KPMG LLP, which takes in revenue statements and tallies the growth totals using an algorithm.
Companies must be headquartered in Berks or show that 50% of their revenue comes from the county to be eligible for the awards.
GRCA members can submit nominations to be considered for the list based on their annual revenue, which is considered as a total value and more heavily as a percentage of growth over the past three years.
“I think that’s the only fair way to do it,” said Leah Fassnacht, GRCA senior director of communications and marketing. “It’s not necessarily the company that has made the most revenue, it’s about showing growth year over year.”
This year, two of the top three winners in both the large and small businesses categories were new to the list.
The holdovers from last year’s awards are American Crane, ranked No. 9 in 2024, and Financial Planning Advisors Inc., Wyomissing, which ranked third this year and No. 10 in 2024.
Fassnacht noted that the top three positions often experience a large amount of turnover, as it can be difficult for companies to maintain such a high growth rate.
Award winners will be recognized at the GRCA’s annual dinner May 21 at the Santander Arena in Reading.
The dinner will feature a keynote speech by Penn Jillette, of the world-famous Emmy Award-winning magic duo Penn & Teller.
Tickets to the event can be purchased on the GRCA’s website.
2025 Business Excellence Awards
Category 1 ($1M+ revenue in previous 3 years)
1. American Crane & Equipment Corp.
2. Reading Truck Equipment LLC
3. Vision Mechanical Inc.
4. Santander Arena and Santander Performing Arts Center
5. Singer Equipment Co.
6. Mail Shark
7. Reading Truck Body LLC
8. Dolan Construction Inc.
9. Folino Estate Winery
10. Diamond Credit Union
11. Gage Talent & Business Solutions
12. Discovery Federal Credit Union
13. Everlasting Wellness LLC
14. Wyatt Seating
15. Berkshire Systems Group Inc.
16. Hubric Resources
17. Herbein + Co. Inc.
18. East Penn Manufacturing Company
19. RKL LLP
20. Cornerstone Law Firm LLC
21. Solve IT Solutions LLC
22. New Castle Lawn & Landscape
23. Brentwood Industries Inc.
24. Sonlight Services LLC
25. M.J. Reider Environmental Testing Labs Inc.
26. Kitay Law Offices
27.Muhlenberg Greene Architects Ltd.
28. Spayd’s Outdoor Environments
29. Bachman’s Roofing
30. Halter Landscaping Inc.
31. Unique Pretzel Bakery Inc.
32. Grant Manufacturing and Alloying Inc.
33. Spotts Insurance Group
34. Catering by John Lowe
35. Fraser Advanced Information Systems
36. Smith Bukowski LLC
37. D&S Elite Construction Inc.
38. D&S Portable Toilets LLC
39. Entech Engineering Inc.
40. Moselem Springs Golf Club
41. Levan Machine & Truck Equipment
42. Stoney Creek Rentals Inc.
43. Baja Beach Wellness
44. Rothenberger Insurance Services LLC
45. Reading Royals
46. Knight’s Rental Inc.
47. Fromm
48. Van Scoy Jewelers
49. American Barber and Beauty Academy
50. Ronnie C. Folk Paving Inc.
Category 2 ($250K+ revenue in previous 3 years)
1. FXV Digital Design
2. Our Konnection LLC
3. Financial Planning Advisors Inc.
4. Disc Centers of America Reading
5. Interlace Communications Inc.
6. ATA Martial Arts – Wyomissing
7. Bell Media Group
8. Empowerment Behavioral Health LLC
9. Moyer-Drabick & Associates Ltd.
10. HonIsT Solutions
