GrowFL at the University of Central Florida is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 class of Florida Companies to Watch. In its 3rd year, Florida Companies to Watch is presented by GrowFL at the University of Central Florida in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Created by the Edward Lowe Foundation, Companies to Watch is an exclusive program that honors second-stage growth companies. Fifty second-stage companies from across the state of Florida were selected as “Companies to Watch” for their impressive employment rates and revenue growth. Award winners were also selected for their entrepreneurial leadership, product innovation, social/community responsibility and competitive business practices.
Florida Companies to Watch is also a testament to the commitment of community partners across the state. These groups work with second-stage companies every day and serve as their champions. More than 42 organizations pledged their support to nominate companies based in their communities, resulting in a record 260 first round applications submitted by the companies. Through a rigorous judging process and second round applications for 106 finalists, 50 companies emerged as winners.
“We built Companies to Watch on the belief that an energized entrepreneurial culture must exist for second-stage companies to thrive,” says Penny Lewandowski, Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Direction at the Edward Lowe Foundation. “Now in its third year, Florida Companies to Watch enables a wide variety of organizations to champion second-stage companies to participate, most notably by nominating them for the award. The partnership of these organizations and the stellar list of winning companies results in strengthening overall community support for second-stagers. Celebrating the achievements of second-stage companies throughout the Sunshine State is at the heart of Florida Companies to Watch, and it begins with a night of good news on October 24th. But the program lives on beyond the awards gala with organizations committed to creating a rich entrepreneurial environment for these companies.”
“Florida Companies to Watch takes a holistic approach, identifying companies across the state that represent Florida’s future,” says Tom O’Neal, Executive Director of GrowFL and Associate Vice President at the University of Central Florida. “It celebrates these companies and recognizes the powerful impact these successful second-stage companies are making on the state’s economy. Being selected for the Florida Companies to Watch awards program provides growing businesses the credibility and recognition that distinguish them among their peers.”
The combined impact of the 50 companies selected to this year’s Florida Companies to Watch is immense. In 2012 alone, the companies generated $388 million in total annual revenue and held 1,865 full-time equivalent employees. The companies collectively project the creation of 429 net new jobs for 2013. From 2009 through 2012, these companies generated $1.1 billion in revenue and added 940 employees (both in Florida and out of state), reflecting a 126% increase in revenue and 102% increase in jobs for the four-year period. *Data compiled in August 2013.
2013 Winners:
21
st Century Learning Solutions, Inc.
AgileThought
Albu & Associates, Inc.
Alpha-Omega Training and Compliance, Inc.
Amzur Technologies, Inc.
Apollidon
Applied Fiber
Arcadia Aerospace Industries, LLC
AVT Simulation
B&C Technologies LLC
CERTON
College Hunks Hauling Junk
Convergence Consulting Group
COWs Mobile Storage
Creative Sign Designs
Cube Care Co.
Custom Agronomics Solutions
Custom Control Solutions
Dignitas Technologies, LLC
Doctors Administrative Solutions
Domital Corporation
Envy Labs
First Green Bank
Flagship Solutions Group
Florikan ESA LLC
HNM Global Logistics
iDatix Corporation
IDEAS
Kavaliro
LRM Industries Inc.
Mainstream Engineering Corporation
Manufacturers Distributor, Inc.
MB2x
Mercedes Medical
MY Shower Door
Pacer Group, Inc.
Pelican Wire Company
Refrigerated Express LC
Sancilio and Company, Inc.
Seatorque Control Systems, LLC
ShayCore Enterprises, Inc.
Sixto Packaging
Snapt
Solodev
Solstice Benefits, Inc.
SouthTech
Tactical Machining, LLC
Teas Etc.
Therigy, LLC
Uber Operations
