Mar. 15--Few new companies joined the ranks of the Star 200 this year, but as many companies shed jobs in 2008, several employers moved up among the top 200 employers after just missing in recent years.

Two employers are completely new to the list.

B/E Aerospace, a maker of aircraft interior products, moved right into a tie for 122nd this year after growing quickly the past several years. In just over four years, the company grew from about 45 workers to 387 full-time-equivalent employees at its East Side plant.

The Tucson Residence Foundation, a non-profit service agency providing long-term residential care for individuals with developmental disabilities, entered the Star 200 this year at 164th with 270 employees.

Two solar-energy firms participated in the Star 200 for the first time this year.

Global Solar Energy Inc., once partly owned by UniSource Energy Corp., clocked in at No. 197 in the Star 200 with 200 employees after expanding into a new plant on the Southeast Side in March 2008. The company specializes in making thin-film solar-electric material.

And Solon Corp., a subsidiary of Berlin-based solar module manufacturer Solon AG and investor in Global Solar, came in at 223rd with 125 reported employees.

Meanwhile, as many Star 200 pared their payrolls, some other companies moved from the "other responses" category into the Star 200 proper, including Nova Home Loans, Quik-Mart Stores, Century Cinemark Theatres and Goodwill Industries.

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