August 4, 2019
News Release
50 FLORIDA COMPANIES YOU WILL WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO
— Entrepreneurial styles, corporate cultures give these second-stage companies competitive advantages—
KISSIMMEE, Florida, August 4, 2019— AeroStar Training Services is pleased to announce 50 statewide companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. AeroStar was selected to be included on this list 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.
AeroStar’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.
Deidra Toye, AeroStar’s owner and CEO said, “We are grateful for this opportunity to be recognized by GrowFL for our contribution to the aviation industry and to Central Florida’s economy. As a leading flight school in Florida, we look forward to continuing to partner with the community and other aviation organizations to train world-class pilots and overcome the existing pilot shortage.”
Joining AeroStar on the Florida Companies to Watch list are the following Florida-based businesses:
| Company Name | City | County | Primary Business |
| Accelirate, Inc. | Sunrise | Broward | Information Technology |
| ADVOS Legal, PLLC | Ponte Vedra Beach | St. Johns | Legal Services |
| AeroStar Training Services, LLC | Kissimmee | Osceola | Transportation and Warehousing |
| Align Business Advisory Services | Winter Park | Orange | Finance and Insurance |
| Beryl Project Engineering | Tampa | Hillsborough | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| BioDerm, Inc. | Largo | Pinellas | Manufacturing |
| Centerline Brackets | St. Augustine | St. Johns | Manufacturing |
| Cottrell Title & Escrow | Naples | Collier | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |
| Crevalle Boats | Wildwood | Sumter | Manufacturing |
| Davis Industrial | Tampa | Hillsborough | Manufacturing |
| Dedicated IT | Riviera Beach | Palm Beach | Information Technology |
| EarthBalance | North Port | Sarasota | Other Services (except Public Administration) |
| ECHO UES, Inc. | Tampa | Hillsborough | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| Express Freight, Inc. | Orlando | Orange | Transportation and Warehousing |
| FLYMOTION | Tampa | Hillsborough | Information Technology |
| FutureCow | Sanford | Seminole | Manufacturing |
| Global Jetcare, Inc. | Brooksville | Hernando | Health Care and Social Assistance |
| Kira Labs, Inc. | Pompano Beach | Broward | Manufacturing |
| MagicalButter.com | Port Richey | Pasco | Manufacturing |
| MAS Environmental, LLC | Tampa | Hillsborough | Waste Management and Remediation Services |
| McCormick Stevenson Corporation | Clearwater | Pinellas | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| Mettauer Environmental | Alva | Lee | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting |
| Mother Kombucha | St. Petersburg | Pinellas | Manufacturing |
| National Drug Screening, Inc. | Melbourne | Brevard | Other Services (except Public Administration) |
| Neobroadband, Inc. | Doral | Miami-Dade | Telecommunications |
| OCULUS Surgical, Inc. | Port St. Lucie | St. Lucie | Manufacturing |
| OIT, LLC | Miami Lakes | Miami-Dade | Telecommunications |
| OnMed, LLC | Clearwater | Pinellas | Health Care and Social Assistance |
| OnPay Solutions, Inc. | Jacksonville | Duval | Information Technology |
| PeakActivity | Boynton Beach | Palm Beach | Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
| Pepine Realty | Gainesville | Alachua | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |
| Powerful Foods, LLC | Miami | Miami-Dade | Retail Trade |
| Probability and Statistics, Inc. | Palm Bay | Brevard | Information Technology |
| Raider Outboards, Inc. | Titusville | Brevard | Scientific Research and Development |
| Rudram Engineering, Inc. | Rockledge | Brevard | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| SiteREADY | Tampa | Hillsborough | Information Technology |
| Smart Baking Company | Sanford | Seminole | Accommodation and Food Services |
| Solar Stik, Inc. | St. Augustine | St. Johns | Scientific Research and Development |
| Steamroller Studios | Mount Dora | Lake | Arts, Entertainment and Recreation |
| StrataPT, LLC | Osprey | Sarasota | Administrative and Support Services |
| TeleVoIPs | Brandon | Hillsborough | Telecommunications |
| The Lunz Group | Lakeland | Polk | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| TheraPeeds Family Center | Davie | Broward | Health Care and Social Assistance |
| Tomahawk Robotics | Melbourne | Brevard | Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
| Total Nutrition Technology | Leesburg | Lake | Manufacturing |
| VeraData | Fort Myers | Lee | Scientific and Technical Consulting Services |
| Vistra Communications | Lutz | Hillsborough | Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services |
| Waypoint Contracting, Inc. | Miami | Miami-Dade | Construction |
| WestCMR, LLC | Clearwater | Pinellas | Other Services (except Public Administration) |
| Wild Florida | Kenansville | Osceola | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation |
“This list recognizes second-stage Florida companies with passionate leaders who are making a difference in growing and diversifying our economy,” said Jennifer Barrows, GrowFL Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board and Business Development Executive with WithumSmith+Brown, PC. 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.
From 2015 through 2018, these companies generated $923 million in revenue and added 935 employees, reflecting a 123.9% increase in revenue and 131% increase in jobs for the four-year period. That translates into a 31% average annual revenue growth and 32.2% average annual growth in employees.
These companies projected continued growth in 2019, with a 34.8% revenue increase and 36.8% growth in employees compared to 2018. If their projections hold, these companies will have generated $1.38 billion in revenue and added 1,541 employees over the last five years — a 201.9% increase in revenue and 216% increase in jobs since 2015.
Companies named to the list will be officially recognized at the 9th Annual Florida Companies to Watch Celebration on November 14, 2019 at the Hard Rock Live, Universal City Walk in Orlando, FL. Tickets are on sale now for the awards ceremony.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.growfl.com/flctw19/about-flctw/
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About AeroStar Training Services:
AeroStar Training Services is located in the Greater Orlando area, in the heart of Kissimmee, Florida. AeroStar provides the highest quality initial pilot training, ATP-CTP, Airbus & Boeing Type Ratings for the global aviation industry by delivering tangible, timely, and cost effective results. AeroStar was founded by a team of experienced aviation professionals in 2008 with a vision that aviation training should be affordable, state-of-the-art, and provide an enjoyable learning experience for all students. We focus on the highest quality training, yet making it affordable and flexible, to meet the needs of our customers’ busy schedules.
AeroStar Training Services
Media Contact: Robin Frey, Director of Marketing
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (407) 888-9011
AboutGrowFL:
GrowFL is dedicated to support and accelerate the growth of second-stage companies throughout Florida, by providing their leaders focused, efficient, and timely access to resources they deem important, such as connections with other second-stage company leaders, and to professional organizations whose expertise, experience, and products lead to the second-stage company’s continued growth and prosperity resulting in diversification and growth of Florida’s economy. Second-stage growth companies have at least 10 employees and a $1 million in revenue and possess an intent and desire to grow beyond second-stage. Website: growfl.com https://www.growfl.com/flctw19/about-flctw/
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.
AeroStar is an ABCI Client.