What kind of dues do you have to pay to gain entrée to the prestigious BE 100s club, which is characterized by entrepreneurial excellence and dazzling achievement in the horse race of corporate America?

Perhaps it's working for free for nine months, while at the helm of a company trying to gain its footing. Or pursuing an entrepreneurial path that started with selling African wares in college bookstores and evolved into overseeing a conglomerate of construction, real estate development and broadcasting companies. Or even working as an accountant for 20 years before switching gears to head a full-service office furniture and systems dealership.

Sound rigorous? Certainly three of the new entrants into the be 100s universe would say yes, having respectively lived through the above scenarios to drive their companies toward success. And what success they've seen: combined, they have more than 85 years of business experience and $150 million in revenues last year.

Clearly, they've earned their BE 100s membership cards--and we welcome them to the club.

MEET THE NEXT GENERATION

The first BE 100s freshman class of the new millennium boasts seven brand-new entrants in addition to WireAmerica, Roberts Broadcasting Co., Roberts Wireless Communication and Facility Interiors, which are featured in this issue. Here's a brief introduction to the newcomers, and their rank on this year's BE Industrial/Service 100 list.

African Heritage Networks Group No. 97 (tie)
Started in 1993 and based in New York City, AHN does distribution and ad sales for national broadcasts of African American television shows including New York Undercover and Moesha. It's the first black television company ever to own rights to off-networks series. Under the leadership of chairman and CEO Frank Mercado-Valdes, AHN grossed $26.5 million in 1999.

Chivas Industries L.L.C. No. 78
This full service automotive supplier of interior trim and plastic injection molding has 300 employees and is based in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The company had gross 1999 sales of $34 million and is helmed by CEO Joseph B. Anderson Jr.

Computer Consulting Associates International Inc. No. 96
This Southport, Connecticut-based IT company provides technical resources including programmers, Web development and technical support to Fortune 100 companies. Last year marked the launch of the company's DIV2000.com Web site, a resource for minority- and women-owned businesses. Under president and CEO Kenton Clarke, gross sales reached $26.8 million last year.

DBM Technologies No. 49
This auto industry supplier sells blow molding and automotive logistics to clients including GM, Toyota, Ford and Chrysler. Based in Pontiac, Michigan, and headed by president and CEO Lawrence D. Crawford, DBM employs 750 and grossed $60 million in 1999, its first year in business. No Limit Enterprises No. 25
This nine-year-old company headed by CEO Percy Miller, a.k.a. Master P., is a music and entertainment conglomerate that includes No Limit Films and No Limit Clothing. From 1997 to the present, the company produced 14 platinum and eight gold records. Last year No Limit, which is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, brought in $110 million in gross sales.

RLLW Inc. No. 53
RLLW sells pizza and concession-related items to individual consumers, primarily through its Pizza Hut franchises, of which it acquired 34 in 1997 and 33 in 1998. Based in Las Vegas, RLLW employs 1,600, and under chairman and CEO Jackie L. Robinson the company pulled down $54 million in gross sales last year.

RS Information Systems Inc. No. 68
This McLean, Virginia-based IT company provides software engineering/applications development, network engineering management, end-user technical support and more to primarily government clients. Started in 1992 and headed by president and CEO Rodney P. Hunt, RSIS pulled in $39.85 million in gross sales last year.