Turlock’s own Olympian-turned-entrepreneur Ali Cox has earned a new accolade. While not as shiny as her silver medal in rowing she won at the 2004 Athens Games, this award has fulfilled one of Cox’s professional goals.
Inc. magazine announced that Cox’s marketing agency — recently renamed Noble West — is No. 3,050 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
Noble West ranked 435 in California and 268 for fastest growing marketing and advertising agency on the Inc. 5000.
“Making the Inc. 5000 has been a personal goal of mine for years,” said Cox. “We’ve focused our new business efforts squarely within our specialty of agriculture and food ingredient client partners, forging the way for Noble West to earn our reputation as a true partner to an incredibly important industry. I’m grateful for our team who believe in our mission and have doubled down on our values. Thanks to the full team effort we were able to grow by 187% over the last three years.”
The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate ticked up to an astonishing 2,238 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 1,187,266 jobs to the economy over the past three years.
“Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” said Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000—with the fast growth that requires—is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.”
Cox founded her boutique marketing agency, Ali Cox & Company, Inc., in 2007. Since relocating home to Turlock from New York City, Cox has delved into her agricultural marketing passion and built out her agency.
Five years ago, Cox renamed her company AC&C Marketing and emerged as the regional leader in food and agricultural marketing.
Earlier this summer, Cox renamed the company Noble West — with the philosophy of “noble” hearts and “west” ward thinking.
“We've been going by AC&C marketing for about the last five years. And I just really felt like I had outgrown the name. We accomplished everything we were going to accomplish with AC&C and as the company became so much bigger than just me, I felt like the time was right to take my name out of the business, because the work is really a reflection of all of our teammates,” said Cox.
She also said that while she is proud to have the company’s headquarters in her hometown of Turlock, Noble West now has offices in Los Angeles and Columbus, Ohio.
