The 2005 Fast 50

Fast is a state of mind.

If you're fast, you don't accept the status quo. You plan for your moment to shine and when it comes -- pow! -- run for daylight and don't look back. Being fast is taking on an impossible task and bit by bit making it work. It's imagining a better world (or even one that smells like chocolate). Here are the winners of Fast Company's fourth annual global readers' challenge -- every one of them an innovator, dreamer, and doer. Just what did you accomplish in 2004?

Peak Performers Smartly executed great ideas made 2004 a very good year
1	Good Boy! Jeffrey P. Ansell, 45 President The Iams Co., a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble
2	Putting Towns on the Map Tom Buxton, 54 President and CEO, The Buxton Co.
3	Just Don't Call Them Time Shares Donn Davis, 42 CEO, Exclusive Resorts LLC
4	A School for Us Dennis Littky, 60 Cofounder and codirector, The Big Picture Co.
5	Calling the Tune Panos Panay, 32 Founder and CEO, Sonicbids Corp.
6	A Brand to Go, With Everything on It Tom Ryan, 48 Executive vice president of branding, Quiznos Sub
7	Tasty Trader John Scharffenberger, 53 CEO and cofounder, Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker
8	The Shoe Fits Nick Swinmurn, 31 Founder and chairman, Zappos.com Inc.
9	Homeland Amenity Michael Van Valkenburgh, 53 Founding principal, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.
10	Future Shock Andrew Zolli, 34 Founder, Z+Partners
New Ideas Making their mark with products and services we hadn't imagined
11	Coming to a Boil Dwight Aspinwall, 43 Cofounder and president, Jetboil Inc.
12	Reach Out and Touch Everyone Tony Bates, 37 Vice president and general manager, Cisco Systems Inc.
13	Supercharging the Digital Shoebox Stewart Butterfield, 31 Caterina Fake, 34 President and VP marketing and community, Ludicorp Research & Development Ltd.
14	Memo to Bugs: Bring It On Richard Lane, 55 President, Buzz Off Insect Shield LLC
15	Going to the Mattresses Kurt Ling, 41 Vice president of innovation, Simmons Bedding Co.
16	Designing Better Research Thomas Newmaster, 37 Owner and COO, William Fox Munroe Inc.
17	Dell-izing Printers Tim Peters, 43 VP and GM, Dell Imaging and Printing, Dell Inc.
18	Military Intelligence Steve Roth, 52 Founder and CEO, MAYA Viz LLC
19	Soccer Dad Gets Mad Jeff Skeen, 46 CEO and founder, Full90 Sports Inc.
20	Nexis for the Rest of Us Patrick Spain, 52 Founder, Chairman, and CEO, HighBeam Research Inc.
Breakthroughs Big moments, immediate results
21	Cool by Design John Christakos, 40 President and designer, Blu Dot Design & Manufacturing Inc.
22	Dollars From Detritus Stampp Corbin, 44 Founder and CEO, RetroBox
23	On Best Behavior Dave Morgan, 41 CEO and founder, Tacoda Systems Inc.
24	Credit Card Top Cop Sergio Pinon, 54 Senior vice president of security and risk services, MasterCard International
25	Internet Video Star Allie Savarino, 33 Senior vice president, Unicast Communications Corp.
26	Paging Captain Kirk Rob Shostak, 56 Founder and CTO, Vocera Communications
27	The New Joe College Luke Skurman, 24 Cofounder and CEO, College Prowler
28	The Firestarter Clay Wilson, 42 Fire chief, SimpleFire LLC
29	The Power of O Larry Woodard, 45 President and CEO, Vigilante
30	True Person-to-Person Calling Niklas Zennstroem, 39 Cofounder and CEO, Skype Technologies S.A.
Milestones They're not there yet, but their ideas are thrilling
31	Power on Demand Stephen DeWitt, 38 CEO and President, Azul Systems Inc.
32	The Brand Matchmaker Di-Ann Eisnor, 32 CEO, Community-centric Marketing
33	World Explorer Juan Enriquez, 45 Chairman and CEO, Biotechonomy LLC
34	Fast Cars, Fast Company D. Cole Frates, 36 Cofounder and president, Hydrogen Car Co.
35	Really Keeps Going and Going . . . Stephan Godevais, 43 CEO, president, and chairman, Valence Technology Inc.
36	Big Ideas Come in Small Packages Dan Rugar, 51 Manager of nanoscale studies, IBM
37	You Smell Delicious Caroline Sabas, 30 Perfumer, Givaudan Fragrances
38	From Lab to Fab Greg Schmergel, 36 Cofounder and CEO, Nantero Inc.
39	Tilting at Windmills Thomas Wagner, 43 General manager of wind technology, GE Energy
Reinventions Charting a new course for their businesses and industries through innovation
40	Documenting Magic Bruce Chizen, 49 CEO and president, Adobe Systems Inc.
41	In the Bag Mark Dwight, 45 CEO, Timbuk2
42	A More Popular Banco Roberto Herencia, 46 President, Banco Popular North America
43	Changing the Debate Ray Lauk, 45 Superintendent, Lyons Elementary School District 103
44	From Pawn to King Steve Mack, 46 Chairman, Ztradingindustries
45	More Than a Symbolic Change William Nuti, 41 President and CEO, Symbol Technologies Inc.
46	Reloading the Silver Bullet Dicky Riegel, 38 President and CEO, Airstream Inc.
47	Ready for a Close-up Shane Robison, 50 Chief strategy and technology officer, Hewlett-Packard
48	The Sounds of Service Jeff Stone, 47 President and CEO, Tweeter Home Entertainment Group
49	Media Maven David Verklin, 48 CEO, Carat Americas
50	Retailing 101 Jenna Whitney, 38 Director of learning & development, Old Navy