Joseph Kornik

Consulting magazine writes a lot about the larger, enterprise firms in consulting. That's a given: There's no doubt those firms are the engine that drives the entire profession.

And while we enthusiastically cover the goings on of the brands everyone recognizes, there's simply no doubt that we really anticipate discovering and covering our Seven Small Jewels each year. And the analogy is an appropriate one, the thought of uncovering some diamond in the rough is exhilarating.

Turn back the clock to 2004. That's the year Huron Consulting Group was named one of our Seven Small Jewels. Today, the firm generates more than $800 million in revenue annually. How's that for getting in on the ground floor? Is there a future Huron in this year's Seven Small Jewels? Only time will tell, of course. But one thing's for sure, it's an impressive listing of firms punching way above their weight.

This year's Seven Small Jewels defy the odds in so many ways, but when you boil it down to dollars and cents, it really hits home. Combined, the Seven Small Jewels grew revenue in 2014 by 73 percent. Three of the Seven Small Jewels doubled the size of the firm in 2014. How'd your firm do in 2014? Moreover, collectively they are forecasting 42 percent growth for 2015. (Check out all their stories.)

When reading their stories, what's even more apparent is the unique way these firms do business. Each has found a niche, a widget and way to compete with the big boys in consulting. In many cases, they are going head to head with enterprise firms and winning the business outright.

How? In some cases, it boils down to senior people doing similar work at more competitive price points. In others, it's simply superior service. And still in others, it's creative pricing models that all but guarantee ROI for the clients. The reasons are as varied as the firms themselves. The results, however, are not.

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