Entrepreneurial styles, corporate cultures give these second- stage companies competitive advantages
Pensacola, Florida (9/20/2018) — Digital Boardwalk is pleased to announce the 50 statewide companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. Digital Boardwalk was selected from more than 500 nominees for Florida Companies to WatchSM, a statewide program managed by economic development group GrowFL, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Digital Boardwalk’s management team, competitive market position and strong community involvement were among several factors that put them in contention for the award.
“These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs, and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL executive director. “They also all have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets,” he said.
“This year has marked a huge milestone for digital boardwalk,” says Tim Shoop, CEO. “We have grown 81% over the past three years and added many jobs right here in Florida. My favorite part of the growth is that we not only create jobs, but it allows us to give back to our local community and foster more growth around us. We have an amazing entrepreneurial culture that instills in our team a passion and drive that our customers experience on a daily basis. I am proud of our team and couldn’t have achieved any of this without their dedication to our mission. Our goal is to help other businesses scale through proper technology implementations and planning, while backing that up with award-winning help-desk support.”
Joining Digital Boardwalk on the Florida Companies to Watch list are the following Florida-based businesses:
| Company Name | City | County | Primary Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-koi | Melbourne | Brevard | Management Consulting Services |
| Alluvionic, Inc. | Melbourne | Brevard | Management Consulting Services |
| ArgoTrak | Naples | Collier | Other Services (except Public Administration) |
| Artemis Plastics, LLC | Ocala | Marion | Manufacturing |
| AXI International | Fort Myers | Lee | Manufacturing |
| Beast Code, LLC | Fort Walton Beach | Okaloosa | Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
| Benseron Hospitality | Naples | Collier | Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
| Body Details, LLLP | Boca Raton | Palm Beach | Other Services (except Public Administration) |
| Burgess Civil, LLC | Tampa | Hillsborough | Construction |
| Bush Brothers Provision Company | West Palm Beach | Palm Beach | Wholesale Trade |
| CloudHesive | Fort Lauderdale | Broward | Information Technology |
| ContentBacon | Davie | Broward | Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services |
| Cornerstone Fabrication, LLC | Debary | Volusia | Manufacturing |
| Cruise Car, Inc. | Sarasota | Manatee | Manufacturing |
| Custom Manufacturing & Engineering | Pinellas Park | Pinellas | Manufacturing |
| DAK Resources, Inc. | Jacksonville | Duval | Administrative and Support Services |
| Digital Boardwalk, Inc. | Pensacola | Escambia | Information Technology |
| Digital Resource, LLC | West Palm Beach | Palm Beach | Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services |
| Easy Foods, Inc. | Kissimmee | Osceola | Manufacturing |
| Electronic Locksmith, Inc. | Apopka | Orange | Retail Trade |
| EPIC Engineering & Consulting Group, LLC | Winter Springs | Seminole | Information Technology |
| Expert Shutter Services | Port St. Lucie | St. Lucie | Manufacturing |
| Firehawk Helicopters | Leesburg | Lake | Other Services (except Public Administration) |
| Flame Boss | Orlando | Orange | Manufacturing |
| Forcura | Jacksonville | Duval | Information Technology |
| Fountainhead Commercial Capital | Lake Mary | Seminole | Finance and Insurance |
| FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers | Sarasota | Sarasota | Health Care and Social Assistance |
| G.S. Gelato & Desserts, Inc. | Fort Walton Beach | Okaloosa | Manufacturing |
| Germfree | Ormond Beach | Volusia | Manufacturing |
| GM HILL | Jacksonville | Duval | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| Hesperos, Inc. | Orlando | Orange | Scientific Research and Development |
| Intellisteel Group, LLC | Leesburg | Lake | Manufacturing |
| Knight Federal Solutions | Orlando | Orange | Scientific and Technical Consulting Services |
| Matthews Design Group, Inc. | St. Augustine | St. Johns | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| Motorworks Brewing | Bradenton | Manatee | Manufacturing |
| Next Horizon | Sanford | Seminole | Information Technology |
| Oasis Senior Advisors | Bonita Springs | Lee | Health Care and Social Assistance |
| RND Automation | Sarasota | Manatee | Manufacturing |
| Sarasota Medical Products, Inc. | Sarasota | Sarasota | Manufacturing |
| Structural Composites, a division of The Composites Company | W. Melbourne | Brevard | Scientific Research and Development |
| Sunrise Capital Investors | Clearwater | Pinellas | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |
| Sus Hi Eatstation | Orlando | Orange | Accommodation and Food Services |
| The Collage Companies | Lake Mary | Seminole | Construction |
| three.two.one | Orlando | Orange | Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services |
| Triple E Equipment, Inc. | Pompano Beach | Broward | Retail Trade |
| US Submergent Technologies, LLC | Sarasota | Sarasota | Waste Management and Remediation Services |
| Vac-Tron Equipment | Okahumpka | Lake | Manufacturing |
| Vectra Digital | Fort Myers | Lee | Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services |
| VetCor, LLC | Tampa | Hillsborough | Other Services (except Public Administration) |
| World Housing Solution, Inc. | Sanford | Seminole | Manufacturing |
“This is a strong group of companies that deserve this special recognition given annually to the state's top second stage companies,” said Dr. Chris Morton, GrowFL Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board, CEO of NanoPhotonica and a 2015 Florida Companies to Watch honoree. Second- stage companies are defined as those with 6 to 150 full-time employees and between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue. There are many programs and incubators promoting start-up businesses; GrowFL is the only Florida program that focuses exclusively on second-stage companies.
The 50 companies named the 2018 Florida Companies to Watch generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and added nearly 1,000 jobs between 2014 and 2017.
Together, the companies project a 50 percent increase in revenue and 40 percent increase in job growth in 2018 compared to 2017.
Companies named to the list will be officially recognized February 9, 2019 at the Straz Performing Arts Center in Tampa, FL. Tickets are on sale now for the awards ceremony.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.growfl.com/flctw18/about-flctw/
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About Digital Boardwalk:
Digital Boardwalk provides comprehensive technology management and consulting services for small and medium-sized businesses throughout Florida and beyond. We help customers achieve reliability, security, and peace of mind through award-winning support, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and backup services. We know that technology is integral to your business, so we work diligently to keep your technology working for our clients. Our team of certified technology specialists bring their individual expertise and knowledge to each job at hand. Together, we promise to provide you with the best customer service experience, industryleading technology, and continuous innovation, all catered to your specific needs.
About GrowFL:
GrowFL provides strategies, resources and support, including strategic research and peer-to-peer CEO mentoring and leadership development, to second-stage Florida companies. Created by the Florida legislature in 2009 and grounded in the philosophy of Economic Gardening® — growing existing businesses in a community, region or state — GrowFL is a critical component of the state’s economic development strategy and Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. GrowFL is certified by the National Center for Economic Gardening through the Edward Lowe Foundation. Website: growfl.com
About the Edward Lowe Foundation:
Established in 1985, the Edward Lowe Foundation is a national, nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurship through research, recognition and educational programs, which are delivered through entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs). The foundation focuses on second-stage companies — those that have moved beyond the startup phase and seek significant, steady growth. In addition, the foundation has a second mission of land stewardship and is committed to preserving the natural resources and historically significant structures at Big Rock Valley, its 2,000-acre home in southwest Michigan.
