Coherent Communications Systems Corp.

From the April 28, 1997 Washington Post

	'96 (in $ 000s)	% Change From '95
Revenue	54,431	24.2
Net Income	9,748	28.4
Rank Last Year: 89

Description:
Coherent Communications Systems' line of products, designed to improve the sound quality of calls from conventional and wireless networks, is used by a Who's Who of phone companies and hardware makers, including AT&T Corp., Cellular One, British Telecom PLC, France Telecom SA, Cable and Wireless PLC, and Motorola Inc.

Business Resume: Contact Info -- 44084 Riverside Pkwy Leesburg, Va. 20176 703-729-6400 Main Business -- Telecommunications Founded -- 1968 Chairperson -- Charles A. Root President -- David Powell Employees -- 200 D.C.-Area Employees -- 90

Developments:
Coherent recently rolled out the first product designed specifically to eliminate echoes in cellular phone calls, which should help maintain its 25 percent annual growth rate. Business Week chose the company as one of the 100 fastest-growing small companies last year, and Forbes magazine moved Coherent from 96th place to 58th on its list of 200 best small companies. It moved up one place from its spot at 89 on The Post's list last year.

In the past, more than 80 percent of Coherent's sales have come from exports, primarily to Europe, but last year it made big gains in the U.S. market and in Asia. The focus on domestic sales resulted in contracts with several major wireless and long-distance phone companies.

After doing business in Asia for several years, the company opened offices in China, Japan and Singapore last year. China's state-owned phone company has decided to use Coherent Communications' equipment, and the company signed a contract to license a Chinese government company to manufacture its echo-canceling gear for that market.

In September, Coherent plans to move into a new headquarters facility south of Leesburg.