I would like to expand the Windows 7 Start Menu

I am running a fresh installation of Windows 7, 32 bit, professional version.
My issue is with the all programs menu, which I find cramped. There seems to be no easy way to expand this menu to let me to find programs and features more rapidly. Right now I don't need to scroll (much) to find the programs I need, but as time goes on that will change.

I am aware that I can group programs into folders, and how to do that, but this still doesn't solve the problem I'm facing. (If I weren't such a pack rat it wouldn't be so bad, but as it is...)

Any suggestions?

Joe