TMCnet News

GrowFL Announces 2014 Florida Companies to Watch Winners
[August 15, 2014]

GrowFL Announces 2014 Florida Companies to Watch Winners


ORLANDO, Fla. --(Business Wire)--

GrowFL, the Economic Gardening Institute, is pleased to announce the winners of the annual Florida Companies to WatchSM awards program. Fifty leading second-stage companies have been selected from more than 500 nominations statewide. The 2014 class joins an esteemed group of 150 previous Florida Companies to Watch winners honored over the past three years.

Florida Companies to Watch
Presented by GrowFL, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation
Thursday, October 23, 2014
6:00 pm - Dinner and Awards
Hard Rock Live, CityWalk
Orlando, Florida

Florida Companies to Watch is an awards program that celebrates privately held second-stage companies headquartered in the state. To be eligible, applicants must employ between 6 and 99 full-time equivalent employees and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue or working capital in place. Awardees are selected for demonstrating the intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, sustainable competitive advantage, outstanding corporate culture, inspired community giving and other notable strengths.

"Florida Companies to Watch is honored to recognize another outstanding group of stage-two companies," said Dr. Tom O'Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute and associate vice president for the University of Central Florida's Office of Research and Commercialization. "This is our fourth year of celebrating second-stage business leaders throughout the state of Florida. Being selected for the Florida Companies to Watch awards program provides growing businesses the credibility and recognition that distinguish them among their competitors. In Florida, these businesses account for five percent of the companies and nearly 30 percent of the jobs. They make a difference and we're happy to offer them the recognition they deserve."

Florida Companies to Watch is unique because of its focus on second-stage companies and the wide-ranging industries they represent. The impact of these companies on Florida's economy is immense, and this year's honorees are examples of such companies in the state. Overall, the 2014 winners had $370 million in total annual revenue in 2013, which was a 36 percent increase in total annual revenue compared to 2012. They employed 1,757 full-time equivalent employees, with 462 net new jobs projected for 2014. *Data compiled in August 2014.

"If you were to draw a picture of an organization that gets it, it would look like GrowFL," says Penny Lewandowski, Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Direction at the Edward Lowe Foundation.

"They understand how vital second-stage companies are to Florida's economy and are committed to delivering tailor made services that help them succeed. Companies to Watch is a time to celebrate these amazing companies that make a difference in their communities, customers and employees every single day and to applaud the many efforts of GrowFL and their partners. We could not be more proud."

Winners from across the state of Florida are listed below.

"This event promotes the entrepreneurial spirit in Florida and highlights the incredible economic impact these companies have made," says Mark Williams, Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board and Vice President, Wells Fargo (News - Alert). "We are honored to bestow these second stage companies across Florida this award on October 23rd. We thank all of the organizations that are committed to creating the entrepreneurial environment for these companies to continue to grow."

The companies selected for the Florida Companies to Watch award will be celebrated at a special awards dinner on Thursday, October 23 at Hard Rock Live, CityWalk in Orlando, Florida. For more details on Florida Companies to Watch, visit flctw.growfl.com or email [email protected].

2014 Sponsors include Wells Fargo, TWSquared, University of Central Florida, Florida High Tech Corridor, atLarge, Inc., Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, Filmscape, OUC, AMTIS Inc., Edwards Financial Services, Enterprise Florida, Fifth Third Bank, Florida Power & Light, Insperity, LSQ Funding, Sorensen Moving & Storage, SunTrust, and USF CONNECT. Sponsorships for the 2014 event are still available.

About GrowFL:

GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida legislature as an economic development program focused on assisting second-stage growth companies prosper in the state of Florida. By providing strategies, resources and support to second-stage companies for next level growth through Strategic Research and peer-to-peer CEO mentoring, GrowFL helps companies overcome obstacles to growth and leads them towards prosperity. Based on the philosophy of Economic Gardening® - to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state - GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, is a critical component to the state's economic development strategy and Florida's entrepreneurial ecosystem. GrowFL is a statewide economic development organization certified by the National Center for Economic Gardening through the Edward Lowe Foundation.





2014 Florida Companies to Watch

 

11th Hour Business Centers, LLC

 

Orange (News - Alert)

3dcart

 

Broward

Across Borders Management Consulting Group, LLC

 

Seminole

Akron Biotech

 

Palm Beach

Alakai Defense Systems, Inc.

 

Pinellas

Altavian, Inc.

 

Alachua

AML Superconductivity and Magnetics

 

Brevard

Anuva Manufacturing Services, Inc.

 

Brevard

Argosy Group International, LLC

 

Orange

Aviation Partners Group, Inc.

 

Charlotte

AZZLY - INTUITIVEMR, INC.

 

Indian River

Bean Team

 

Leon

Beneficial Blends, LLC

 

Hillsborough

BioZone Scientific International, Inc.

 

Orange

Blinc International, Inc.

 

Palm Beach

Clean the World Global

 

Orange

CPR Tools, Inc.

 

Hendry

Crunchy Logistics, LLC

 

Orange

CSI (News - Alert) Specialty Group

 

Seminole

Destination MCO, Inc.

 

Orange

Diamondback Towers, LLC

 

Brevard

Digitec Interactive, LLC

 

Orange

Distinctive Kitchen and Baths

 

Palm Beach

Employment Technologies Corporation

 

Orange

EnableSoft, Inc.

 

Orange

Enterprise Risk Management

 

Miami-Dade

Gamesim, Inc.

 

Orange

GDKN Corporation

 

Broward

GO Auto Recycling

 

Duval

Informed Medical Decisions, Inc.

 

Pinellas

Innovated Industrial Services

 

Polk

IRISS

 

Manatee

Lenco Marine, Inc.

 

Martin

Level 3 Inspection, LLC

 

Martin

MCCi, LLC

 

Leon

MobileHelp

 

Palm Beach

Moten Tate, Inc.

 

Orange

PAC Seating Systems

 

Martin

Photon-X, Inc.

 

Osceola

PPi Technologies Group

 

Sarasota

Pyure Brands, LLC

 

Collier

QuantumFlo, Inc.

 

Volusia

SeaDek Marine Products

 

Brevard

SEARCH

 

Alachua

Shadow Health, Inc.

 

Alachua

Synergy (News - Alert) Settlement Services

 

Orange

The Smart Companies

 

Lee

UCT Coatings

 

Martin

Vestagen Technical Textiles, Inc.

 

Orange

xByte Technologies

 

Manatee


2014 Florida Companies to Watch

Economic Impact of 50 Second-Stage Companies

  • $370 million in total annual revenue
  • 36 percent increase in total annual revenue compared to 2012
  • 1,757 full-time equivalent employees
  • 462 net new jobs projected for 2014

Increasing Impact

From 2010 through 2013, these companies generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and added 959 employees, reflecting a 149 percent increase in revenue and 120 percent increase in jobs for the four-year period. That translates into a 31 percent annual revenue growth and 26 percent annual growth in employees.

These companies project continued growth in 2014, with a 36 percent revenue increase and 26 percent growth in employees compared to 2013. If their projections hold, these companies will have generated $1.5 billion in revenue and added 1,421 employees over the last five years - a 243 percent increase in revenue and 178 percent increase in jobs since 2009.


[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]