BARE International lands three Washington Business Journal honors in 2026

BARE International earned three 2026 Washington Business Journal rankings in the DMV region, including Fastest Growing Companies, Women-Owned Businesses and Private Companies. The recognitions underscore the Fairfax-based customer experience research firm’s long-term growth, regional footprint and global scale.

Why it matters: - The three rankings signal that BARE International is growing while maintaining a strong regional profile in the DMV market. - The honors also reinforce the company’s position as a women-owned business with a long operating history and a global client base. - The recognition comes as the company continues expanding its customer experience research, analytics and reporting offerings.

What happened: - BARE International earned three Washington Business Journal recognitions in 2026. - The company ranked No. 35 on the 75 Fastest Growing Companies list in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region. - BARE International ranked No. 25 on the Women-Owned Businesses list. - BARE International ranked No. 223 on the Private Companies list. - The Private Companies ranking appeared in the Sept. 11 issue. - The Women-Owned Businesses ranking appeared in the Oct. 9 issue. - The Fastest Growing Companies recognition was highlighted at the 2026 Fastest Growing Companies Awards Gala. - President Jason Bare and Global Business Development Director Michele Jowdy represented the company at the gala.

The details: - BARE International is based in Fairfax, Virginia. - The company describes itself as a global leader in customer experience research, mystery shopping, audits and market research. - The company has operated for four decades. - BARE International says it serves clients in more than 185 countries. - The company’s work includes mystery shopping, operational audits, customer experience measurement, compliance programs, market research and advanced analytics. - BARE International says it works with organizations in retail, automotive, hospitality, financial services, healthcare, restaurants and other industries. - The company says it has a global network of more than 1 million evaluators. - The recognitions reflect business growth, regional presence and longevity, according to the company.

Between the lines: - The three rankings measure different dimensions of the business, which suggests BARE International is not being recognized for growth alone. - The combination of fast growth and a long operating history points to a company that is scaling without abandoning its core business model. - Jason Bare said the recognition reflects the foundation the team has built and the direction the company is moving. - Michele Jowdy said the gala underscored the value of exchanging ideas with other businesses about growth, customers and adaptation.

What’s next: - BARE International says it will keep advancing its customer experience research capabilities with evolving technology, analytics and reporting solutions. - The company also plans to continue helping clients turn customer insights into measurable business improvements. - Jason Bare said the company intends to keep investing in its people, staying close to clients and adapting without losing its core values.

The bottom line: - BARE International used the 2026 Washington Business Journal rankings to showcase both growth momentum and staying power in a competitive regional market.