Leader of the
Pack:
This year’s 48 Top Companies listing shows that Southwest Florida’s economy is still
climbing out of the recession. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed reported increases in
gross annual revenues, while others remained flat or fell—a similar picture to 2011’s ranking.
Gary Newsome heads
Health Management
Associates Inc., No.1 on the
Top Companies list.
Leading the upswing were healthcare-related operations and tech firms. Judging by the revenue figures of
some businesses—a motorcycle dealer and home-theater company, for example—the public has embraced
spending on life’s finer things. Several construction companies and developers on the list suffered
blows, but a few managed to show growth, largely by
expanding their services and geographic boundaries.
The listing’s top 10 changed from last year due to
lackluster performances, a newcomer to the rankings and a company that did not participate. Most
in that group reported higher revenues in 2011,
including Arthrex Inc., which broke the billion dollar mark in 2011.
The Upper
Our annual
ranking of
Southwest
Florida’s top
companies
RANK
1
COMPANY
Health Management
Associates Inc. Collier
The list is compiled from information provided by
privately held companies and from public information where it’s available. Results are based on gross
revenue, with a minimum requirement of $8 million.
The net income—whether companies made a profit or
experienced a loss and by how much—is not presented.
Law firms and chain hotels are among the industries not listed because of inequitable reporting practices. In addition, insurance firms were asked to base
their gross revenues on commissions rather than premiums to make it more comparable.
We know that some companies that would qualify might not be on the list, and we’d like to hear
about them for future consideration. If you know
of one, please contact Editor
Phil Borchmann at [email protected] or (239)
449-4151.
Read on for the 2012 list
of Southwest Florida’s top
companies.
48
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Healthcare
Gary D. Newsome
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
Owns and operates 71 acute-care hospitals in 15 states throughout the United States,
including Charlotte Regional Medical Center, Lehigh Regional Medical Center, Peace River
Regional Medical Center, Physicians Regional Medical Center–Collier Boulevard and Physi-
2
Lee Memorial Health
System Lee
Healthcare
James R. Nathan
Lee Memorial Health System includes Cape Coral Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center, Lee
Memorial Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida
and The Rehabilitation Hospital. One of five healthcare centers in the nation to receive the
American Hospital Association’s Nova Award for collaboration with community agencies in
3
Chico’s FAS Inc. Lee
Clothing retailer
David F. Dyer
A specialty retailer of private-branded women’s clothing, intimates, complementary accessories
and other non-clothing gift items. It began as a small boutique on Sanibel Island and today
4
Compiled by Kristie Aronow
Photography by Alex Stafford
16 GB | july 2012
NCH Healthcare
System Collier
Healthcare
Allen Weiss, M.D.
The NCH Healthcare System is a full-service, not-for-profit integrated healthcare system with
715 beds in two hospitals, which collaborates with 650 independent physicians to care for
more than 30,000 patients annually. NCH Downtown Naples Hospital and NCH North Naples
Hospital total more than 145,000 census days to patients each year. Outpatient facilities
40,600
1977
WEBSITE
2011
REVENUE
2010
REVENUE
hma.com
$5.8 billion
$5.1 billion
cians Regional Medical Center–Pine Ridge. It’s a Fortune 500 Company named to Fortune
Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies list.
10,290
1916
leememorial.org
$4.22 billion
$3.85 billion
2010. Received three awards from the Florida Hospital Association: Community Benefit
Award for creating and sustaining the Bob Janes Behavioral Triage Center, Best Hospital
Workplace in Florida and recognized for effectiveness in eliminating central line-associated
blood stream infections in ICUs.
4,950
1983
chicos.com
$2.2 billion
$1.9 billion
operates 1,256 stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto
Rico under the Chico’s, White House | Black Market, Soma Intimates and Boston Proper names.
3,900
1955
nchmd.org
$1.56 billion
$1.36 billion
include walk-in, wellness and rehabilitation centers, as well as wound-care facilities and
infusion centers in Collier and Lee counties. NCH’s emergency departments had more than
87,000 visits last year. In 2012, NCH received numerous commendations, including top 5
percent in the nation for cardiac services.
july 2012 | GB 17
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48
Healthy returns
#1
F
RI
DA
M AGA Z I
NE
$3.95
GULFSHOREBUSINESS.COM
A LOOK AT THE
ECONOMIC IMPACT
AS WE TOLD
GOV. SCOTT
TO CUSTOMER
COMPLAINTS
5
6
COMPANY
Arthrex Inc. Collier
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
10
11
2011
REVENUE
2010
REVENUE
arthrex.com
$1 billion
$970 million
ground for Arthrex Manufacturing East, a new surgical device and implant manufacturing
facility near Ave Maria. The Everglades Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals awarded Arthrex the Association of Fundraising Professionals Innovation in Philanthropy
Award in 2011.
Lee County Electric
Cooperative (LCEC) Lee
400
Electricity distributor
Dennie Hamilton
ASG Software
Solutions Collier
Software provider
Arthur L. Allen
A privately held global firm that provides a full range of enterprise software solutions, it has
more than 80 offices serving the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific. ASG
provides software solutions to more than 85 percent of the world’s largest companies. The
8
1981
WEBSITE
Fifth Third Bank Collier
Financial institution
David Call (South
Florida)
Fifth Third Bank (South Florida), headquartered in Naples, has more than 60 banking centers
serving Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Fifth
Third Bank offers full-service banking convenience, including mortgage, private banking,
18 GB | july 2012
1940
lcec.net
12
1,300
1986
asg.com
673
1998
WEBSITE
leesar.com
2011
REVENUE
2010
REVENUE
$158.5 million $139.9 million
Florida by Sen. Michael Bennett. Annually, the company donates medical supplies for Neighborhood Health Clinic in Naples.
1858 (local
since 1991)
53.com
$160 million
$124 million
corporate banking, trust, investments and currency exchange for 110 countries. Barron’s
Magazine listed Fifth Third Private Bank as one of the top 40 wealth management businesses
in the U.S. in 2011.
David Fry
700
Manhattan Construction
Inc. Collier
Construction
management
F. Fred Pezeshkan
Hope HealthCare
Services Lee
Healthcare
wcicommunities.com
$158 million
$363 million
Regional Technology Partnership and Best Promotional Item recognition by Lee County Building Industry Association. WCI’s community involvement includes fundraising for United Way,
Susan G. Komen, Harry Chapin and All Faiths food banks, Sunshine Kids.
113
Samira K. Beckwith
2009
1968
manhattanconstruction.
com
$144 million $153.8 million
Association, including: Best Commercial Contractor Project–Hospitality for Seminole Hard
Rock Casino Parking Garage and Pedestrian Bridge; and Best Commercial Contractor Project–Restaurant for Hard Rock Café.
1,100
1984
HopeHCS.org
$135 million
$137 million
recognition includes: the 2012 Senator’s Choice Award for exemplary approaches to patient
care, American Pharmacists Association Foundation’s Pinnacle Award for innovative, highquality care; and the Circle of Life Award, a national recognition for improving the care of
people near the end of life.
WCI Communities created and distributed
MyWCi iPad application to all new
homeowners.
14
COMPANY
Beasley Broadcast
Group Inc. Collier
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Radio broadcasting
George G. Beasley
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
Beasley owns or operates 44 radio stations in 11 large- and mid-size markets throughout
the United States. Since 1986, the company has had its corporate offices and five radio
stations in Southwest Florida, from Port Charlotte to Marco Island. In 2011, George G. Beasley, chairman and CEO, was named the Broadcaster of the Year by the Florida Association
15
DeAngelis Diamond
Construction Inc. C ollier
Contractor
David Diamond,
John DeAngelis
Founders David Diamond, president, and John DeAngelis, vice president, run the company
with the four other principals (Reggie Morgan, Norman Gentry, Jay Waltbillig, Steve Soud),
providing general contractor service and construction management for educational, financial,
healthcare, hospitality, industrial, office, residential, retail and green building in Southwest
16
Alico Inc. Lee
Land management
and agribusiness
JD Alexander
Alico Inc. is a publicly traded, land-management company with 139,600 acres in Collier,
Glades, Hendry, Lee and Polk counties. In addition to land leasing, the company pursues rock
mining and real estate activities. Company land often has multiple uses on the same acre-
$285 million $263.3 million
company was selected for inclusion in the 2012 KMWorld Hall of Distinction for its enterprise
content management. Sponsorships include Florida Hospital Foundation, the Conservancy of
Southwest Florida, YMCA of the Palms and City of Naples Tennis Championships.
Developer and
homebuilder
Hope provides coordinated healthcare services focusing on quality of life for people with
serious illness or entering their final chapter of life. The services and programs include
Hope Hospice, Hope Healing Hearts, Hope Kids Care and Hope Parkinson. Hope Hospice is
accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program. The not-for-profit organization’s
$399.2 million $420.7 million
Immokalee, Ave Maria and parts of Lehigh Acres. Employees contribute financially and volunteer hours for the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity,
Junior Achievement, Chambers of Commerce, civic organizations and youth groups.
WCI Communities Inc. Lee
Manhattan Construction Inc. focuses on commercial and government projects as well as
solar construction. It recently completed the Boston Red Sox spring training facility in South
Fort Myers. The company received Summit Awards in 2011 from the Lee Building Industry
-YEAR
A leader in product development and educational services for orthopedic surgeons, Arthrex
has developed more than 6,000 products for arthroscopic and minimally invasive orthopedic
surgical procedures, now marketed worldwide. In 2011, the company was awarded a place
on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies. It recently broke
LCEC is a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving nearly 200,000 customers
throughout a five-county area in Southwest Florida. The service territory includes Cape Coral,
North Fort Myers, Marco Island, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Pine Island, Everglades City,
7
1,300
280
Based in Bonita Springs, WCI has initiated sales and construction activity in nine communities totaling 24 neighborhoods. The company created and distributed MyWCi iPad application
to all new homeowners and received the Transformation Award from the Southwest Florida
ANNIVERSARY
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
Designer/manufacturer Reinhold Schmieding
of surgical devices
Robert Simpson
This summer, LeeSar will move to the 202,000-square-foot Regional Service Center in Fort
Myers, expanding from the original 60,000-square-foot facility. The company was honored
in 2011 with The Senator’s Choice Award for the most innovative company in the State of
RANK
RANK
Healthcare supply
chain management
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
ION
Gary Newsome,
CEO of Health
Management
Associates
INSIDE THE
COUNCIL OF
LOCAL BUSINESS
LEADERS ADVISING
THE GOVERNOR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
A
#1
ARE
RACETRACKS
AND CASINOS
GOOD BETS?
LeeSar Lee
INDUSTRY
SS
-
O
9
COMPANY
I AT
E
OVERALL
MAGAZINE
L
K NOWLEDG E I S POWER
JULY 2012
RANK
OC
BRON Z
management paradigm represents the future of healthcare,
because independent hospitals will find it increasingly difficult to meet the complexities of modern medical needs.
Any company whose revenue
Health
“We are still looking for partnerships,
can be measured in the billions
Management
as
we were prior to the recession,” he said.
must be doing something right.
Associates
BEST
“If anything, the process has been accelerAnd by tapping into the masated in recent times, and there are some
sive healthcare industry, HMA
outstanding communities and partner(Health Management Associates
ships which are looking to sell. In fact, at
Inc.) has created a business that, if not
the moment we are turning down as many
immune to an economic downturn, is at least more
opportunities as we are acquiring.”
resilient than most.
The TOP 48 COMPANIES
in Southwest Florida—
There are good reasons why indepen“We very much had to react to circumstances,”
led by HMA.
dent hospitals would want to join the
says Gary D. Newsome, president and CEO of
HMA network, which boasts more than
Naples-based HMA. “Prior to recent times, healthWINNING
ANSWERS
10
40,000 “associates” (physicians, nurses
care might have been seen to have been recessionand administrative and support staff).
proof, but with the length and depth of the recession
that we’ve had since 2008, I can’t imagine any business that Among those reasons are its financial strength and its commitment to partnership and quality, as well as its cultural
has been insulated from that.”
Founded in 1977, HMA—which owns and operates 71 initiative “Getting2Great”, or G2G, which looks to build
hospitals across Florida and 14 other states—has put in leadership and a stronger, more cohesive culture among its
place a number of measures designed to counteract the employees.
HMA also has received it share of accolades. For example,
effects of the downturn and grow revenues for the business,
without compromising the level of care for which its facili- it was named on Fortune magazine’s “World’s Most Admired
Companies” list. Additionally, The Joint Commission recogties have become known.
“We have become more effective in how we deliver our nized 60 percent of HMA’s hospitals as Top Performers, far
care, and this has helped us to grow our revenues organi- exceeding the industry average.
“In many cases, we have not been the highest bidder,”
cally,” says Newsome. “But we are also operating in an era
where we have added about $1.4 billion to the company says Newsome. “But local boards choose us because they
are looking for the right partner. Also, we’re taxpayer rather
since December 2009.”
HMA’s revenue for 2011 was $5.8 billion, roughly $700 than a not-for-profit, so we’re supporting the economy and
million above 2010. Newsome believes that the company’s the local government.” —Dave Boland
17
Tigrent Inc. Lee
Educational training
seminar provider
Steven C. Barre
Tigrent Inc. is a provider of training, conferences, publications, technology-based tools and
mentoring where customers acquire learning they can apply to accumulate wealth. Through
affiliates Tigrent Brands, Tigrent Learning, Tigrent eLearning and Rich Dad Education, the
402
1961
WEBSITE
2011
REVENUE
2010
REVENUE
bbgi.com
$98 million
$98 million
of Broadcasters and was selected as a Laureate for Collier County’s Junior Achievement
Business Hall of Fame. The company supports numerous local causes, including the Autism
Speaks, Junior Achievement of Lee and Collier counties and the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
60
1996
deangelisdiamond.com $88.5 million
$60 million
Florida. The company won 2011 Summit Awards for Best Commercial Contractor Project in
the public works category for Fire Station No. 1 in Sarasota and Best Commercial Contractor
Project in the healthcare category for Hendry Regional Medical Center Expansion.
134
1960
alicoinc.com
$98.6
$77.1 million
age, including cattle ranching, forestry, farming, recreation and oil exploration. In the third
quarter of 2011, the company relocated its headquarters from LaBelle to a 27,300-squarefoot office building in Fort Myers.
167
1992
tigrent.com
$75 million
$103 million
company provides a training model that imparts skills and knowledge in investing (real estate
and financial instruments), entrepreneurship and personal finance.
july 2012 | GB 19
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48
RANK
18
19
COMPANY
Discovery Management
Group LLC Lee
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Communities
developer
Thomas J. Harrison
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
982
O-A-K SOLID:
Florida Division President David
Dale says the company can handle
whatever comes its way.
Legacy Builders
#22
The history of Owen-AmesOwen-AmesKimball will grace the region’s
Kimball Co.
landscape for generations. Initially
founded in Michigan in 1891, the
construction company’s Florida
division was established in 1982, and
three decades later its legacy is evident by
some of the area’s most iconic buildings.
The decision to migrate south was helped by the fact that
former O-A-K President Cal Owen had a home in Sarasota.
This coincided with a desire of company management to
look beyond Michigan. With the completion of I-75 and the
development of Southwest Florida International Airport, all
economic indicators pointed to the Gulf Coast as a region
ripe with untapped potential.
In the intervening 30 years, O-A-K has built some of
Southwest Florida’s true landmarks, including projects
at Florida Gulf Coast University and Page Field, and the
Covenant Presbyterian Church on U.S. 41 in North Naples
and Scanlon Lexus dealership in Fort Myers.
O-A-K has constructed several Leadership Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings. Charlotte
County’s Meadow Park Elementary School was the first
gold-rated LEED elementary school in Florida. St. Leo the
Great Catholic Church Parish Life and Education Center
in Bonita Springs was silver LEED certified, and Archbold
Biological Station in Fort Myers was platinum.
20 GB | july 2012
“We were established as a full-service, client-oriented
company,” says David Dale, president of the Florida division of Owen-Ames Kimball located in Fort Myers. “And
we have tried very hard to maintain that and to be self-sustaining into the future.”
What is remarkable about O-A-K’s resilience is that it
has had to operate against the backdrop of the construction
industry’s downturn, at a time when its overall project sizes
and margins are down.
“We feel that, if you are not growing, you are going backwards,” says Dale. “We are still moving forward, and we
have implemented a number of improvements in terms of
quality control, cost management and safety—so hopefully
our clients see that.”
Additionally, O-A-K has been helped by both its longevity
and the historic diversity of its project types.
“One of the benefits of being a very old and established
company is that closure is not on the cards,” explains Dale.
“It’s about keeping the company’s capacity in such a state
that we can handle whatever comes at us.”
This commitment to quality has extended to its 30th anniversary. Instead of a large celebration, O-A-K has chosen
to give back to its community by donating blankets to the
Salvation Army and providing scholarships for FGCU. It also
plans to hold events with four other charities: the Guadalupe
Center of Immokalee, the Heights Foundation (Harlem
Heights Community Center), the Harry Chapin Food Bank
and the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
—Dave Boland
2010
REVENUE
discoverymgt.com
$70 million
$68 million
living community, in Fort Myers. Discovery has won multiple awards from National Association of Home Builders, senior housing council; the Southeast Builders Conference Aurora
Awards; and the National Mature Media’s marketing awards.
Healthcare Network of
Southwest Florida Collier
250
Healthcare
Richard B. Akin
Scott Fischer
Enterprises Lee
Motorcycle sales and
service
Scott Fischer
Premier Sotheby’s
International
Realty Collier
Real estate brokerage
Judy Green
healthcareswfl.org
$72.8 million $45.6 million
1987
sfe-us.com
$72 million
$60 million
Fischer was named a 2012 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Laureate for Lee
County. Harley-Davidson honored the Fort Myers dealership with a Bronze Bar and Shield
Award and the Naples location with a Silver Bar and Shield Award.
450
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, a division of The Lutgert Cos., is a luxury real estate
brokerage firm. The company has 18 offices in Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Sanibel, Captiva, Clearwater, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Longboat Key, Venice and Naples. In the first
quarter of 2012, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty closed almost $474.7 million in
1977
nity Foundation’s Harvey Kapnick Award, the Economic Development Councils Excellence in
Industry Award, The State of Florida Department of Education’s Migrant Health Professional
of the Year Award for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program and was a 2011 Gulfshore
Business/D’Latinos Face Award winner – large company category.
250
The company owns/operates Harley-Davidson dealerships in Lee and Collier counties, as
well as Alabama, New Mexico and North Carolina. Scott Fischer Enterprises is one of three
founding members of Blessings in a Back Pack, which provides food for weekends to elementary school children who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Meal Program. Scott
21
2011
REVENUE
Discovery Management Group is a developer, builder and operator of luxury senior-living
communities, focusing on independent living and assisted living. The company developed,
built and currently operates six communities in Florida under the Aston Gardens brand name.
In June, the company began construction on Discovery Village at The Forum, a new assisted
Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida, formerly CHS Healthcare, a private, not-for-profit,
healthcare provider has 12 medical and dental service locations in East Naples, Golden
Gate, North Naples, Marco Island and Immokalee. The organization also provides pediatric
medical and dental services on-board the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. During 2011, the
company served more than 43,000 patients. Healthcare Network has received the Commu-
20
1994
WEBSITE
2008
premier-properties.com
$56 million
sales, a 20 percent increase from the $394.3 million in first quarter of 2011. Within the last
24 months, the firm merged with the Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate for Sarasota,
Manatee and Charlotte counties.
Discovery Management Group developed, built
and currently operates six communities in
Florida under the Aston Gardens brand name.
RANK
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
22
Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. Lee
Construction
management
David J. Dale
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
The Southwest Florida division of this Michigan-based company has offices in Lee, Charlotte
and Collier counties, providing construction management, design/build and general contracting services. O-A-K was named winner of the 2011 Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Associated
Builders & Contractors Inc. (ABC) Excellence in Construction Award for the Charlotte County
23
B & I Contractors Inc. Lee
Service contractor
Gary H. Griffin
The company provides mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection services. B & I
received two Eagle Awards for best project and best specialty subcontractor at the annual
Associated Builders and Contractors Excellence in Construction. The company also won Subcontractor of the Year by the Lee Building Industry Association at the sixth annual Summit
24
Veritas Employer
Services Lee
Professional employer
organization
Charlie Ingram
Veritas is a full-service professional employer organization providing customizable human
resources, payroll and employee benefits solutions to a select group of businesses through-
41
1982
WEBSITE
2011
REVENUE
2010
REVENUE
owen-ames-kimball.com
$49 million
$50 million
School District’s East Elementary School project. The company’s construction team LEEDcertified St. Leo the Great Catholic Church’s Parish Life and Education Center in Bonita
Springs at the Silver level; it was the first church facility in the state to receive a LEED
designation.
310
1960
Bandicontractors.com
$48.8 million $39.6 million
Awards. B & I and its employee-owners donate to several local charities and organizations,
including the United Way, American Harry Chapin Food Bank; Pace Center for Girls; and
the March of Dimes, providing sponsorship donations and labor for the annual Bowling for
Babies event.
1,286
2008
goveritas.com
$45.8 million $37.8 million
out North America. The company specializes in large employee organizations.
july 2012 | GB 21
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RANK
25
26
48
COMPANY
NeoGenomics Inc. Lee
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Medical diagnostic
testing laboratory
Douglas M. VanOort
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
300
Engineering
Richard G. Lewis
Rib City Lee
Restaurant chain
Paul D. Peden
TIB Financial Corp. Collier
Financial services
R. Eugene Taylor
Preferred Travel
of Naples C ollier
Travel agency
Wilma Boyd
Since opening its doors in 1984, Preferred Travel of Naples has become the largest travel
agency in Southwest Florida. The agency has grown from three employees to 53 travel
specialists throughout the world; employees have extensive experience, traveling personally to many domestic and international destinations. The agency’s recognition includes
30
Conditioned Air
Corporation of
Naples Inc. Collier
HVACR service and
installation
W. Theodore Etzel III
Conditioned Air is a full-service residential and light-commercial HVACR company with emergency service, planned maintenance, equipment replacement, design/build custom construction and production housing installation. It serves clients from Sarasota south to Marco Island.
31
Avow Hospice Inc. Collier
Healthcare
Karen Rollins
An independent, nonprofit agency that provides care for the terminally ill of Collier County
and their families. Avow offers a broad program of no-cost support for community members
who have suffered any kind of loss, including the loss of a pet, or for those who are caregivers. The agency educates the community about topics related to end of life and provides
32
American Farms LLC Collier
Plant nursery
Christine Raber
Naples-based American Farms is a wholesale grower and seller of hundreds of varieties
of annual and perennial flowers and plants. In 2011, the company received the Supplier of
33
Lee Mental Health
Center Inc. Lee
Mental healthcare
provider
David E. Winters
A private, not-for-profit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors, Lee Mental
Health provides outreach, transition and prevention services throughout Lee County, including United Way Houses and in public schools. Services include mental health assessments
34
$43.5 million $34.4 million
HSA Engineers &
Scientists Lee
TIB Financial Corp.—a subsidiary of Capital Bank Financial Corp.—operates as the bank
holding company for Capital Bank, which has $6.5 billion in total assets and 143 full-service
29
neogenomics.org
2010
REVENUE
involves in the analysis of DNA and RNA. The publicly traded company markets clinical diagnostic services to pathologists, oncologists, urologists, hospitals and other laboratories. In
2011, the company opened a laboratory facility in Tampa.
The family-owned barbecue restaurant grew from a chain into a nationwide franchise. Since
2004, Rib City has opened franchises in Colorado, Utah, Ohio, Washington, Tennessee,
Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, Missouri and Illinois. There are currently 13 corporate restaurants in Florida and 16 franchise restaurants across the country. In 2011, Restaurant Busi-
28
2001
2011
REVENUE
NeoGenomics Inc., doing business as NeoGenomics Laboratories, operates a network of
cancer-focused testing laboratories in the United States. It provides various services, including cytogenetics testing, which analyzes human chromosomes; and molecular testing, which
The Fort Myers division offers civil, mechanical, electrical, environmental, geotechnical and
structural engineering design for commercial and institutional buildings. In 2007, 2009 and
2010, HSA was named one of Inc. magazine’s Top 200 Environmental Firms and Zweig
White’s 2007 Top 200 Fastest Growing Architectural, Engineering, Planning and Environ-
27
230
WEBSITE
Advanced Electronic
Systems Integrators
Inc. Collier
Home theater and
automation, electrical
contractor
Daniel Robbins
The company has a range of commercial and residential services, offering commercial
audio-visual, home theater systems, communications, lighting control, security and closedcircuit as well as networking and full integration. The company, formally known as Accent
22 GB | july 2012
1989
hsa-env.com
$35.8 million $32.1 million
mental Consulting Firms in the country. Locally, HSA is involved with numerous community
organizations, including PACE School for Girls, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity,
several schools and chambers of commerce.
750
1989
ribcity.com
$35 million
$33 million
ness magazine and MonkeyDish.com ranked Rib City the 11th fastest-growing restaurant
chain. Annually, Rib City donates to a number of nonprofits and recognizes Fort Myers Police
Department officers monthly and Lee County Sheriff’s Office personnel each quarter for
service excellence.
1,375
1974
capitalbank-us.com
$29.8 million
$80 million
banking offices throughout southern Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and
Virginia. TIB is a subsidiary of Capital Bank Financial Corp.
60
1984
preferrednaples.com
$25 million
$18.6 million
the 2011 Naples Daily News Choice Star Award recipient. Preferred Travel is involved with
various community organizations such as Shelter for Abused Women, Founders Fund, Junior
Achievement, the Immokalee Foundation and Neighborhood Health Clinic.
189
1962
conditionedair.com
$24.9 million $24.6 million
The Uncommon Friends Foundation awarded the company the 2011 Business Ethics Award.
Also, Conditioned Air won the national 2010 Residential Contractor of the Year from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America for its business practices and customer service procedures.
225
1983
avowhospice.org
$21.6 million $24.2 million
professional education for our healthcare colleagues. Several Avow team members have
been honored locally, including Karen Stevenson, chief advancement officer, with the 2012
Catalyst Award of Excellence from the Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association and Dr.
Susan McMahan as a Hero in Healthcare by the Naples Daily News.
160
1991
american-farms.com
$20.2 million $19.9 million
Excellence for Live Goods from Wal-Mart. American Farms expanded its automated greenhouse space in 2010.
300
1969
leementalhealth.com
$19.1 million $18.8 million
and substance abuse counseling. This fiscal year, the center is on pace to serve more than
12,300 individuals, which is more than double what the agency served five years ago using
the same amount of funding.
80
1999
Accentesi.com
$19 million
Wired for Success
RANK
35
COMPANY
Hadinger Flooring Collier
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Flooring retailer
Don Williamson
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
Hadinger Flooring and Area Rug Gallery is the largest flooring store on the West Coast of
Florida, with more than 30,000 square feet of showroom space and a 21,000-square-foot
$15 million
ESI, acquired Advanced Audio Design, which gave the company a new name and a new
full-service branch office in Sarasota. Last year, the company acquired Trinity Technology of
Boca Raton. Advanced has operations in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
#34
Good business has a way of
Advanced
succeeding despite tough situaElectronic
tions. While some companies may
Systems
have fallen during the economic
downturn, others have survived—
and thrived—by exploring new
opportunities. This was the case
with Advanced Electronic Systems
Integrators Inc., which not only
consolidated its leading position
in the entertainment, communications, security and networking
market, but enhanced its standing
through strategic acquisition and
organic growth.
“We had to change our business
AND, ACTION:
model to accommodate the economic
Principal Joe Heironimus (left) and CEO
environment,” says Joe Hieronimus,
Daniel Robbins are leading the company
forward after a strategic acquisition.
a principal with Advanced ESI. “But
a large part of our success was down
to aggressive growth through acquisition. The downturn in Southwest Florida was enough that where all the operations in its southern division are housed.
In terms of the business itself, Advanced ESI has a range of
it created opportunities for those strong companies who
could go out at acquire new business partners, new capabili- commercial and residential services for both the new build
and retrofit market, offering commercial audio-visual, home
ties and new geographic presences.”
Advanced ESI’s ability to capture new acquisitions was theater systems, communications, lighting control, security
enhanced by its operations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, which and closed-circuit as well as networking and full integration
provided a steadier base than the “peak and valley” econ- (the company is a certified Cisco dealer).
“While Pennsylvania and Ohio are largely commercial
omy in Florida.
“The economies in Pennsylvania and Ohio were steady- projects, our operations in the south tend to be mainly resiEddies for us,” says Hieronimus. “They provided us with dential. Of these, about 75 percent are integrated projects
the ability to make investments in Florida, which we made, —a mixture of audio, video, networking and whole-house
automation,” explains Hieronimus.
banking on better days ahead.”
Between its two markets, 2011 was a positive year for
The investments made to-date have changed the face of
the company, which used to operate exclusively out of Bonita Advanced ESI, with revenues of around $19 million underSprings. Formally known as Accent ESI, it acquired another pinning its rapid expansion.
“We have always been financially conservative,” explains
company’s facilities in 2010, and moved its sales group into
new premises in Naples. This was followed by the acquisi- Hieronimus. “We have never overinvested, and we always
tion of projects and assets from a company called Advanced found a good balance between our own balance sheet and
Audio Design, which not only gave the company a new name our relationship with our lending partners. This allowed us
and a new full-service branch office in Sarasota, it also led to tap into cash whenever good opportunities arose.”
—Dave Boland
to another move:new headquarters on Trade Center Way,
36
Forestry Resources
Inc. Lee
Landscape-supply
distributor and
manufacturer
John Cauthen
The Fort Myers-based company manufactures and distributes mulch, soil and landscape
supplies, and it operates a packaging facility and five stand-alone stores. The company has
49
1931
WEBSITE
2011
REVENUE
2010
REVENUE
hadingerflooring.com
$18 million
$17.9 million
warehouse. The flooring retailer has been named a Best Choice with the Naples Daily News
since 2003.
73
1983
gomulch.com
$17.9 million $15.8 million
grown from a 2 ½-acre manufacturing and processing site to a 25-acre site.
july 2012 | GB 23
THE Upper
RANK
37
COMPANY
David Lawrence
Center Collier
48
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Mental healthcare
provider
David Schimmel
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
David Lawrence Center is a nonprofit, community mental health center that provides children
with behavioral, emotional and substance abuse service, and counseling and rehabilitative
programs for adults in crisis and individuals with persistent mental illness. The center has
eight locations in Collier County. Programs include Crossroads Residential Substance Abuse
260
1968
WEBSITE
2011
REVENUE
davidlawrencecenter.org $17.4 million
2010
REVENUE
RANK
COMPANY
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
$16 million
40
Greenscapes of Southwest
Florida Collier
Landscape
Steven R. Pruchansky
Treatment; volunteer music therapy; and Collier Forensic Intensive Reintegration Support
Team Services, which provides jail and community-based transitional support to adults. The
center won the national 2012 Negley Award for Excellence in Risk Management in an Acute
Care Setting.
39
Florida Gulf Bank Lee
Bank
William P. Valenti
76
2001
floridagulfbank.com
$16.7 million $18.3 million
The company was acquired by IberiaBank and is expected to close the deal in the third
quarter. The bank received a national award from the American Bankers Association for
promoting employee volunteerism in February 2012. Each Florida Gulf Bank employee is an
active member of the community, volunteering with various organizations, including United
Way, chambers of commerce, Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, Junior Achievement and
the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Philharmonic Center
for the Arts Collier
445
Cultural arts
Kathleen van Bergen
This nonprofit organization features performing and visual arts in a single complex and hosts
a resident orchestra. In addition to the 1,425-seat main hall and a 200-seat black-box
Growing the Green
#40
1989
thephil.org
First National Bank of
the Gulf Coast Collier
Financial institution
Gary L. Tice
42
Merits Health
Products Inc. Lee
Home medical
equipment distributor
Jonathan Cheng
2011
REVENUE
2010
REVENUE
greenscapesfl.com
$14 million
$12.5 million
2009
fnbofgc.com
$13.1 million $10.5 million
bank was voted Best Bank in the 2011 Naples Daily News Readers Choice Awards, and was
featured in Florida Banking Magazine’s November 2011 issue.
26
The Cape Coral-based company designs and manufactures innovative healthcare products
for people who experience mobility or respiratory problems. The company’s products include
1962
WEBSITE
enhancements. The company was recognized as one of the Top 100 landscape companies
in the U.S. twice.
76
First National Bank of the Gulf Coast is a full-service community bank serving the banking
needs of individuals and business owners throughout Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. The
$16.6 million $16.7 million
1993
meritshealth.com
$12.1 million $18.5 million
power wheelchairs, scooters and beds. It also has locations in China, Taiwan, California and
Texas. Merit Health Products Inc. received a national award of excellence.
theater, the Phil has four museum-quality art galleries.
Greenscapes, one of Southwest Florida’s top
Greenscapes
landscape-design and -management services,
of Southwest
reached a significant milestone in 2012 with
Florida
the celebration of its 50th year in business.
The company, which was founded in 1962 by
Ethel Ray Nelson, has gone through a number of
changes over the past half century. Despite the recession, it is beginning its sixth decade in a strong a position,
after posting a revenue increase of $14 million in 2011.
Twice recognized among the top 100 landscape companies in the U.S. by Lawn & Landscape magazine,
Greenscapes’ services range from landscaping, irrigation and
mowing to pruning, pest management and sod management.
These services mainly are provided to larger clients, including Regal Cinemas, Bob Taylor Chevrolet, Tiburón, Pelican
Bay and Grey Oaks.
CEO Steven Pruchansky lists “passion” as the primary
differentiating factor between Greenscapes and its competitors—a quality that he says is shared by everyone in the
company, from its President Linda Nelson to the supervisors
FIT AND TRIM:
and operatives who make up Greenscapes’ 230-strong staff.
CEO Steven Pruchansky works to
“For example, recently [Nelson] took our supervisors to the
control operational cost as part of the
company’s success formula.
botanical gardens so that they could learn about plants not
commonly found in the Florida landscape,” Pruchansky says.
Though now dealing in lower margins, the reorganized
Supplementing this passion is a commitment to excellence, which can be gauged through the training that every- business has remained competitive, and its volumes are higher
one at Greenscapes receives, and through attention to in 2011 than they were in 2010. So, too, is its area of covcustomer service. While this professionalism alleviated the erage, which now stretches from Marco Island to Venice—a
ravages of the recession, it was Pruchansky’s background in growth that has been both organic and by acquisition.
“We are always looking for better ways of doing things,”
finance that helped the company retrench and prepare for
the future, especially in an industry that saw a rapid decline says Pruchansky. “But three things never change. We need a
loyal customer base, so we take care of our clients. We need
in pricing between 2005 and 2011.
“Now we focus strongly on the operational costs to cre- good vendors who are dependable and who supply quality
ate profitability,” he says. “We are large enough that saving products. And we focus on the quality of our people.”
—Dave Boland
nickels and dimes translates to dollars.”
24 GB | july 2012
210
The landscape management company has been beautifying Southwest Florida for more than
four decades. The company provides landscape maintenance, irrigation, arbor and landscape
41
38
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
43
Lutgert Insurance Collier
Insurance provider
H.A. (Bud) Hornbeck II
85
An independent insurance agency with more than 50 carriers to serve clients, Lutgert Insurance has been a division of the Lutgert Co. since 2000. For more than 55 years, the company
has supported hundreds of organizations such as American Heart Association, American
44
Gulfshore Insurance
Inc. Collier
Insurance provider
Brad A. Havemeier
lutgertinsurance.com
$12 million
$12 million
Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA and the Winged Foot Scholarship Foundation.
Company recognitions include Chubb Cornerstone Agency and FCCI Presidents Club.
84
Gulfshore Insurance is an independent insurance agency headquartered in Naples with
offices in Marco Island, Fort Myers, and Weston. The agency provides professional risk
management and insurance coverage to businesses and individuals, with associates advising more than 9,000 clients throughout the state. It was awarded the 2011 Outstanding
1953
1970
gulfshoreinsurance.com $11.6 million $11.1 million
Corporate Philanthropy from the Community Foundation of Collier County, and was named
one of the 2010 Excellence in Industry award recipients by the Collier County Economic
Development Council.
Greenscapes has twice been recognized as one
of the Top 100 landscape companies in the U.S.
RANK
45
COMPANY
Stevens Construction
Inc. Lee
INDUSTRY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Contractor
Mark Stevens
NUMBER OF
YEAR
EMPLOYEES FOUNDED
Stevens Construction specializes in construction management and general contracting services within the healthcare, commercial and hospitality markets throughout south and central
Florida. The Fort Myers-based company won several 2011 Lee Building Industry Association
Summit Awards, including the Contractor of the Year award, and two 2011 Aurora Awards.
46
J. L. Wallace Inc. Lee
Contractor
Jerald L. Wallace
J.L. Wallace offers general contracting, design-build and construction management services
for projects ranging from retail, office and industrial to multifamily facilities. The company
won three Summit Awards in the Best Commercial Contractor category from the Lee Building
47
Bob Dean Supply Inc. Lee
Industrial distribution
and manufacturing
Robert S. Dean Jr.
The Fort Myers-based distributor of industrial power transmission, industrial supply and
pump products celebrates its 65th year in business. The company provides power train
solutions for car crushers and recycling plants. There are five units in service nationally and
48
Colonial Roofing Lee
Roofing contractor
Glenn Bailey
Colonial Roofing installs shingles for roofs, roofing tile, metal roofing and low slope roofing for
both commercial and residential customers. It specializes in high-wind applications for both
steep and low slope roofing. The company serves Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee,
19
2003
WEBSITE
2011
REVENUE
2010
REVENUE
stevensconstructioninc.
com
$9.8 million
$11.5 million
The company is involved with several charitable and nonprofit organizations, including the
Lee Building Industry Association, the BIA’s Builders Care program and Big Brothers/Big
Sisters of Southwest Florida.
17
1997
jlwallaceinc.com
$10.8 million $14.7 million
Industry Association, and J.L Wallace was a finalist in 2011 Uncommon Friends-Business
Ethics Awards.
59
1947
bobdeansupply.com
$10.1 million
$9 million
two more in production. The company is split into six divisions: industrial power transmission,
industrial/MRO supply, pump sales, steel sales, motor rewind/pump repair and machine/
fabrication shop.
80
1978
colonialroofing.com
$9.1 million
$8.9 million
and Monroe counties. Colonial Roofing has donated residential roofing contractors to build
more than 50 Habitat for Humanity roofs since 2007.GB
july 2012 | GB 25