Florida Companies to Watch for 2012 Nominations

    Building on a break-out inaugural year, the 2012 Florida Companies to Watch awards program is back to recognize and award growing second-stage companies, headquartered in Florida, that have established themselves as high performance companies in their marketplace. This year’s group of companies will have the opportunity to join an esteemed group of national Companies to Watch honorees recognized from across the U.S.     Developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, Companies to Watch was formed as an exclusive way to honor second-stage companies who exhibit innovative business strategies and processes. The companies recognized by this award are leading the way for second-stage companies and prove themselves to be “worth watching”. In 2011, Companies to Watch operated statewide in Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. In 2012, the program grows to northeastern California and Washington state. 
    “The Florida Companies to Watch celebrates the success of companies that make a significant difference in our economy.  In Florida, they account for eight percent of the companies and more than 30 percent of the jobs,” said Tom O’Neal, Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization at UCF and Executive Director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute. “They are in no man’s land: Too big to be small but too small to be big.  These companies make a difference and we’re happy to give the kind of recognition they deserve.”
      The combined impact of the 50 companies chosen as the inaugural winners of 2011 Florida Companies to Watch is $419 million in total annual revenue, 1,972 fulltime equivalent employees and 510 new net jobs created compared to 2009. From 2006 through 2010, these companies generated $1.4 billion in revenue and added 1,153 employees (both in Florida and out of state), reflecting a 162 percent increase in revenue and 141 percent increase in jobs for the five-year period. That translates into a 32 percent annual revenue growth and 28 percent annual growth in employees. A look at one of the second-stage winners of Florida Companies to Watch shows the incredible potential for Florida’s economic rebound.  
*Data compiled in December 2010.

Channel Intelligence CEO to speak to select group at Rollins

    Rob Wight, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Celebration-based Channel Intelligence, will be the keynote speaker for a group that works with public and private organizations to help second stage companies accelerate their growth and generate new employment,
    The CEO Nexus event is scheduled for March 14 at Rollins College.
    Wight was the architect of the products and services that made Channel Intelligence a leading e-commerce technology provider that is relied on by retailers such as Best Buy, Target and Kimberly-Clark. Prior to co-founding CI, several leading technology companies had Wight at the helm of innovative software systems development – especially backup/storage software – including Microsoft that he left in 1998 to form Channel Intelligence.  
     CEO Nexus held one of its biggest CEO Nexus forums recently at Rollins College.
     Steve Quello, president of CEO Nexus, said more than 100 Central Florida companies were represented at the event.
     The forum co-hosted by Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship, the UCF Business Incubation Program, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, and local area chambers of commerce were in attendance.
     Altogether this year, CEO Nexus produced some 16 forum events throughout Florida. “Groups and organizations are now working together to help revitalize the Florida economy and create more jobs,” Quello said.
     The March 14 at Rollins College is by invitation only.
     To learn more about CEO Nexus, its forums and how to register, contact Linda Pope or register at registration@ceonexus.mobi  or call 407-590-6101.

Florida Economic Gardening Institute

UCF is coordinating a pilot program to help second stage companies grow through what is being called the Florida Economic Gardening Institute. The purpose of the Florida Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Pilot Program is to stimulate investment in Florida's economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Companies seeking to participate in the Pilot Program will be evaluated based on the eligibility requirements in Statute 288.1082 provided below.

http://www.growfl.com/