The 2020 Gator100 was announced by the UF Alumni Association and once again the College of Design, Construction and Planning was well represented. Our college had 22 out of the 100 companies in the rankings, including two in the top ten and five in the top 25.
The Gator100 recognizes and celebrates the 100 fastest-growing Gator-owned or Gator-led businesses in the world each year.
The day started off with a lunch for the recipients inside the DCP Gallery, followed by a tour of the facilities and a panel discussion for students. Then the award winners headed over to the ceremony to find out where their company ranked in the Gator100.
Here is the list of all of our DCP Alumni-led or owned companies that made the 2020 Gator100 list and where they ranked. Congratulations to all these great companies!
2. Global Lounge Network (Jeffrey Stern, BDES ‘89)
Global Lounge Network, design, builds, finances and manages VIP Lounges at airports around the world. All the years in the UF College of Design, Construction & Planning’s Department of Interior Design taught me how to build spaces that are welcoming to our guests around the world from Bangkok to Colombia from Puerto Rico to Miami. We design lounges with great lighting and sound, with resting areas and kids rooms but most importantly we welcome our guest in the best Gator tradition, as if they were part of our family!
10. eco Construction, Inc. (Patrick Murray, MSBC ’06)
Founded in 2010 by Patrick Murray, eco Construction, Inc. is a full service general contracting and construction management firm. The business was built around the basic principle; commitment to clients, employees, and communities. Our focus over the last five years has been in the healthcare and educational markets. We follow a core set of values; quality, value, service, honesty, and integrity.
12. Ovation Construction Company (Bert Karpinski, BDES ’87, MBC ‘88)
Ovation Construction is a full service commercial construction company that has been in business since 2006. Having completed hundreds of projects for high profile clients, our mission is to provide outstanding customer service with attention to detail and quality.
18. Walker Architects, Inc. (Joe Walker, BDES ’96, M.ARCH ’98)
Walker Architects, Inc. is a full-service architecture firm located in Gainesville, Florida which believes that a well-designed building can transform lives. We collaborate with institutional, commercial and private clients representing such diverse venues as educational, athletic, professional and medical facilities to deliver projects which combine practical, budget-conscious solutions with lasting appeal. We make old spaces new, new spaces timeless and think beyond the limits of architecture.
23. Gast Construction Group (Allen Gast, BSBC ’00)
Gast Construction Group is a full service Construction Management Firm located in West Palm Beach, Florida specializing in Commercial, Residential, and Exhibit Construction as well as Estate Management.
26. Park & Eleazer Construction (Forrest Eleazer, BSBC ’06, MS ’08)
Park & Eleazer Construction is a construction management firm specializing in commercial construction including office, automotive, retail, and industrial projects. Park & Eleazer’s mission is to help our clients achieve their goals while adding value and positively impacting every life interacted with. We accomplish this by developing authentic relationships, caring for others, investing in people, building with excellence and integrity, and investing in our communities.
30. Group PMX, LLC (Farid Cardozo, BSBC ‘96)
Group PMX is a management consulting company founded in 2009, specializing in delivering program management, project management, construction management and program control services to clients in the building, transportation, industrial/energy and environmental sectors. The company founders have been on the forefront of bringing true project management/program control techniques to their portfolio of projects and programs for various clients throughout the years.
33. Action Equipment (Bruno-Elias Ramos, BDES ’82, M.ARCH ’85)
Action Equipment was founded in 2007 by architect and general contractor, Bruno-Elias Ramos. The ACTION team has over 100 years of combined experience in the equipment and rental industry and continues to learn every day how to perfect a seamless service plan that keeps our customers’ needs first. Our professional staff strives to get you the right equipment to get the job done. The company has satisfied customers for decades by becoming an authorized dealer for reputable brands in the industry.
36. Scorpio. (Dominic Scorpio, BDES ’94, MBC ’98, Holly Scorpio, BFAGR ’98)
Scorpio, a commercial construction firm based in Gainesville, was founded in 2013 by UF graduates Domenic and Holly Scorpio. After receiving his undergraduate and Masters degrees from the College of Design, Construction and Planning, Domenic began work at a local construction firm. Domenic helped to grow the company over his 20-year tenure, serving as President and Qualifying Agent. He and Holly then set out with to create their own company founded on the ideal of community-centered construction.
39. DeAngelis Diamond (John DeAngelis, BSBC ’91, David Diamond, BBC ’85)
Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Naples, Florida, DeAngelis Diamond has become an innovative award-winning construction management firm and a nationally recognized leader in the construction industry. In our first 23 years, we have grown rapidly from a highly successful regional construction management company to a nationally known and well-respected innovative leader in the industry with a highly diverse project portfolio.
42. Straughn Trout Architects (Tim Hoeft, BDES ’04, M.ARCH ’06, Jonathan Kirk, BDES ’95, M.ARCH ‘97)
Straughn Trout Architects creates spaces and places to live, work, play, learn and worship. Our studio features creative professionals that bring a global and sustainable perspective to each project. Our 63-year portfolio includes a diverse spectrum of work, including new designs for contemporary and highly complex structures; educational & institutional campuses; and historic building restorations and redevelopments. Primary markets include K-12, Higher Education, Government, and Commercial & Recreation.
44. High Mark Construction, LLC (Tom Harl, BSBC ’98)
As general contractors serving Florida and Georgia, we specialize in commercial construction and commercial building remodels. Our experienced team is invested not just in getting the job done, but exceptional service and consulting throughout the process. Our goal is always to make the best use of our clients’ space, curb ongoing costs and exceed expectations.
47. Emerald C’s Development, Inc. (Brittany Culbreth, BSBC ’06)
Emerald C’s Development is a full service General Contractor, specializing in interior build-out projects. We serve all markets including corporate/office, health care, industrial, production, education, recreation, and retail. We pride ourselves on being more than the typical contractor by utilizing innovative approaches and problem solving skills to think outside of the box and help our clients make value-driven decisions.
50. Construction Specialties & Design LLC (Don VanDemark, BBC ’70)
Founded by Don and Phyllis VanDemark, Construction Specialties & Design started as a residential renovation company. It has since added to its management with Don VanDemark, Jr. and has grown to a service maintenance company that encompasses six states. Construction Specialties services over 40 major corporations and continues to add new corporations each month.
54. RB Marks Construction, Inc. (Russell Cammack, BSBC ’96, Mark Zaremskas, BSBC ‘96)
RB Marks Construction, Inc. is a Florida based commercial construction company, formed in 2004 to join together the strengths of outstanding construction professionals. Both partners shared a common goal of providing the highest level of service and customer satisfaction while maintaining integrity and honesty with both their customers and their vendors. RB Marks has developed well established relationships throughout the southeast based on a long track record of successful projects.
56. kasper architects + associates (Erik Kasper, BDES ’92, M.ARCH ‘94)
kasper architects exists to use the craft of architecture to develop our associates to impact their family, community, and themselves to be a conduit of good. We bring our years of experience to bear on each project. This approach allows us to create a design solution that produces an efficient building plan contributing to the success of our clients. We are the right size to give personal attention to each client, while the technology we use gives us results that are second to none.
62. Marker Construction Group (W. Grey Marker II, BSBC ‘95)
Marker Construction Group, founded in 2001 by UF alumnus and firm CEO W. Grey Marker II, is a construction management/general contracting firm in Fort Lauderdale. It specializes in commercial, multi-family, hospitality, health care, & high-end residential construction. Awards include Overall Best Craftsmanship by CASF, Pyramid & Eagle Awards from Associated Builders & Contractors, and SFBJ’s Top 25 Contractors, 40 Under 40 Business Leaders, and Fast 50 Awards.
72. Ajax Building Company (William Byrne, BBC ‘85)
Founded in 1958 by the late Mr. J.B. “Block” Smith, Ajax Building Corporation has provided construction services throughout the Southeast for the past 60 years. Ajax is employee owned and managed by Jay Smith and Bill Byrne. Our corporate offices are based in Florida with branch offices throughout the southeast United States.
80. Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. (Willy Bermello, BARCH ‘73)
Bermello Ajamil & Partners Inc. (B&A) is a global interdisciplinary A/E firm established in 1939. Offering services that include Architecture, Engineering, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design and Construction, B&A serves various market sectors consisting of Aviation, Commercial, Education, Healthcare, Maritime, Municipal, Residential and Transportation. Headquartered in Miami, the firm operates on six continents from its offices in Florida, New York, California and Denmark.
81. Sarah Cain Design LLC (Sarah Cain, MID ’07)
Sarah Cain Design is an award winning full service boutique interior design firm specializing in both mid to high end residential and small commercial projects including retail, hospitality, restaurant design, Greek housing, corporate and health care. We look to create turnkey design experiences for our clients, focusing on making the design experience a fun and exciting process free from the stress filled experience often described in renovations or any other building experiences.
85. Marquis Latimer + Halback, Inc. (Jeremy Marquis, BLAE ’08)
ML+H specializes in landscape architecture, planning, urban design, and project management. We create authentic landscapes that are historic or contemporary interpretations for each unique place. Fittingly, we are located in the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida, where we have added our distinctive touch to many of the most recognizable and significant sites across the Southeast.
92. Ai Collaborative, Inc. (Michael Puckett, BDES ’87, M.ARCH ’94, Leigh Young, BDES ’85)
Ai Collaborative is an award winning, multi-disciplinary architectural firm offering a full range of design services including commercial interior design. Centrally located in the historic Ybor City section of Tampa, AiC is capable of managing projects throughout the state of Florida. Our basic philosophy is to combine the disciplines of architecture and interior design in a collaborative environment resulting in a superior product in terms of functionality, aesthetics and cost effectiveness.
