A rapidly expanding Durham research company that relies mostly on government public-health contracts is adding more office space to house its growing workforce.

SciMetrika's revenue will more than double this year to $12 million, fueled mostly by contracts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies, said CEO Jean Orelien.

The company's work includes conducting a survey of health providers' satisfaction for Medicare and Medicaid, studying the effectiveness of carbon monoxide detectors and increasing access to childhood vaccines and immunizations.

Orelien, a native of Haiti who founded the company in 2001, now wants to tap new markets helping health insurers, corporations and the U.S. military improve medical care. He projects that revenue could rise to more than $100 million within the next five years.

The local nonprofit group that supports entrepreneurs and startup companies named a veteran venture capitalist as its new chairman.

Michael Elliott, managing partner of Noro-Moseley Partners, will serve a one-year term as chairman of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development starting July 1. He replaces SciQuest CEO Stephen Wiehe, who remains an officer on CED's executive committee.

CED was formed in 1984 and is now one of the country's largest support groups for entrepreneurs and small businesses, with more than 5,500 members.

The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, which marked its 25th anniversary this year, has a new logo, slogan and branding campaign as it looks to expand its membership during a down economy.

The Research Triangle Park nonprofit saw membership increase about 8 percent for the year that ended in June, and has set a goal of 10 percent for the current year, said Joan Siefert Rose, who became CED's president in August 2008.

CED was formed in 1984 and is now one of the country's largest support groups for entrepreneurs and small businesses, with more than 5,500 members.

Siefert Rose spoke by telephone this morning about the group's new look and more. Here are some highlights of that conversation:

On the new brand: CED's previous logo was about 15 years old and "it looked like it needed some upgrading," she said. The new one features a pattern of swirling dots with an orange dot in the center and the new slogan "Start Something." Clean Design, an RTP brand firm, designed the new look.
The group also is starting to refer to itself as "CED," rather than the full name, which "was sort of a mouthful," Siefert Rose said. "It's nice to have a fresh start."

They're serving cold beer and hot barbeque in Durham this afternoon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development.

The Research Triangle Park nonprofit was established in 1984 and has expanded to become one of the country's largest support groups for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. CED now has 5,500 members.

The silver anniversary festivities will include CED president Joan Siefert Rose discussing CED's new logo and marketing strategy as the recession drags on. She joined CED in 2008 as its second president, replacing Monica Doss, who ran the group since 1986.