By Joey Mazzaferro
The 2019 Gator100 was announced and the College of Design, Construction and Planning comprised almost a quarter of the list. Our college had three in the top ten, nine of the top 25 and a total of 24 companies, offering further proof that our alumni continue to shape the world we live in.
The Gator100 recognizes and celebrates the 100 fastest-growing Gator-owned or Gator-led businesses in the world each year.
The day before the announcement, several of DCP’s Gator100 winners participated in a panel session hosted by the DCP Entrepreneurship Club (DCPE). This discussion in the Architecture Atrium was attended by students, faculty and staff.
During the event, students learned about the panelists’ entrepreneurial spirit, what they look for when hiring recent college graduates and their biggest challenges when going into business for themselves.
Here is the list of all of our DCP Alumni-led or owned companies that made the 2019 Gator100 list this year and where they ranked on the list. Congratulations to all of these great companies!
4. eco Construction, Inc. (Patrick Murray, MSBC ’06)
Founded in 2010 by Patrick Murray and Mike Nail, eco Construction is a full-service general contracting and construction management firm specializing in healthcare and educational projects. The business was built around a basic principle: commitment to clients, employees and communities.
9. RedTeam Software (Michael Wright, BSBA ’85, David Grabosky, BBC ’84)
RedTeam Software, founded in 2006, offers a comprehensive, cloud-based solution for construction project management and accounting. Having been built by commercial construction industry veterans, RedTeam delivers real-time updates utilizing an intuitive social interface to enable construction teams to collaborate and communicate online at all stages of commercial construction projects.
10. ACY Contractors, LLC. (Michael Young, BSBC ’97)
Established in 2004, ACY Contractors provides construction management, general and trade construction services for K-12, higher education, health care, federal and other niche markets. ACY delivers start-to-finish services for each client, from pre-construction to closeout, and values high-quality, safety and reliability for bid-build and design-build projects. ACY’s focus is on new and renovation commercial projects and its success is achieved through its seven core values.
13. Action Equipment (Bruno-Elias Ramos, BDES ’82, M.ARCH ’85)
Action Equipment has built a strong reputation offering the newest, most reliable equipment throughout Florida. Founded by Bruno-Elias Ramos and Steve Ramos in 2007, the team has more than 100 years of combined experience in the equipment and rental industry. Headquartered in Miami, the company has since expanded to West Palm Beach, Homestead, Orlando, Tampa, Vero Beach, Fort Myers, Jacksonville and Hollywood.
15. Straughn Trout Architects (Tim Hoeft, BDES ’04, MARCH ’06)
Straughn Trout Architects creates spaces and places to live, work, play, learn and worship. Our studio features local professionals with a global perspective, who apply a sustainable approach to each project, whether it be designing a contemporary structure or restoring a historic building. With a portfolio spanning six decades, Straughn Trout’s awards include Building of the Year (US Green Building Council) and Design of Merit (American Institute of Architects Tampa Bay).
17. Gast Construction Group (Allen Gast, BSBC ’00)
Gast Construction Group is a full-service construction management firm specializing in commercial, residential, and zoological construction, as well as estate management. Gast Construction Group’s mission is to provide professional construction and estate management services with the highest quality, the clearest communication and impeccable service no matter the project type or size.
21. 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 grown to a service maintenance company that encompasses six states. Construction Specialties services over 20 major national corporations and continues to add new corporations each month.
22. KVC Constructors (Katherine Crespin, BBC ‘81, Vick Crespin, BBC ‘79, MBC ’80)
Founded in 2001, KVC Constructors specializes in commercial contracting, providing traditional general contracting services as well as design build and construction management at risk. KVC is active in both the public and private sector. Since its inception, KVC has been dedicated to providing excellence in construction and service delivery.
25. 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. It serves all markets, including corporate/office, health care, industrial, production, education, recreation and retail. Emerald C’s Development prides itself on being more than the typical contractor by utilizing innovative approaches and problem-solving to help clients make value-driven decisions.
32. Scorpio. (Domenic Scorpio, BDES ’94, MBC ’98, Holly Scorpio, BFAGR ’98)
Founded in April 2013 by husband and wife Domenic and Holly Scorpio, Scorpio is a full-service commercial construction firm based in Gainesville. Our seasoned team of construction professionals builds to enliven communities and beautify cities. From project inception to completion, we seek the most effective, sustainable solutions to construction challenges. We work to ensure every building delivers lasting benefits for the people who use them.
37. Orocon Construction, LLC (John Oropesa, BSBC ’94)
Orocon Construction was founded in 2006 with a vision of delivering quality projects with honesty and integrity and surpassing customers’ expectations. Orocon offers professional services as construction manager, general contractor, design-builder and concrete contractor. It seeks to develop a sense of teamwork through professionalism, open communications and client participation.
44. Edge Construction (Thomas Manos, BSBC ’08, Marcelo Vila, BDES ’03, M.ARCH ’05, Eric Weiss, BSBC ’08)
Edge Construction, a certified general contractor, provides a full range of high-value preconstruction, construction and design/build services in Florida. The Edge team has expertise in managing everything from small renovations to ground-up development in sectors including health care, commercial/corporate office, education, government, retail, multifamily and industrial. Within the health care sector specifically, our team’s strong experience in AHCA and active campus coordination allows patient care to continue without interruption.
45. Amicon Management (Ross Adickman, BBC ’76)
Amicon Management is a full-service real estate services company. Our team of local experts brings decades of experience, a skilled network of partners and innovative systems to curate a tailored approach to each client’s real estate project – delivering structure, stability and confidence throughout the entire process. Founded by UF alumni Adam Mopsick and Ross Adickman, Amicon Management was recently recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of America’s fastest growing companies.
49. Sarah Cain Design (Sarah Cain, MID ’07)
Sarah Cain Design is an award-winning interior design firm specializing in mid- to high-end residential and small commercial projects, encompassing retail and hospitality spaces, Greek housing, corporate offices and health care environments, as well as professional staging. We create turnkey design experiences for our clients, making the process fun, exciting and free of the stress often associated with renovation and new construction.
56. High Mark Construction (Tom Harl, BSBC ’98)
As general contractors serving Florida and Georgia, we specialize in commercial construction, commercial building remodels and commercial building maintenance. 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.
61. Walker Architects (Joe Walker, BDES ’96, MARCH ’98)
Walker Architects is an experienced group of creative leaders and craftspeople based in Gainesville. We design buildings not for awards but for people and places with complex needs. To that end, Walker Architects builds relationships and connects with clients on a deep level, resulting in smart, useful and transformative design. As shown in our recent expansion and renovation of the Reitz Union, we make old spaces new and new spaces timeless.
62. KAST Construction Company (Mike Neal, BBC ’79)
Founded in 2005, KAST Construction Company is a general contracting company based in West Palm Beach, with offices in Tampa and Miami. KAST is one of Florida’s largest contractors and ranked nationally by ENR Magazine as the 170th largest contractor. KAST is diversified geographically and by market sector, focusing on large complex projects in the hospitality, residential, educational, senior living, private club and municipal sectors.
67. Park & Eleazer Construction (Forrest Eleazer, BSBC ’06, MS ’08)
Park & Eleazer Construction is a regionally recognized construction management firm located in Clearwater, and specializing in commercial and high-end custom home construction. Park & Eleazer values people and the communities they inhabit. Its commitment is to help clients achieve their goals while positively affecting employees, subcontractors and communities.
74. Current Builders (Eric Herlihy, BSBC ’99, Charles Reid, BBC ’75, Michael Taylor, BBC ’82)
Celebrating 46 years of building success, Current Builders is committed to quality construction performed within budget and on or ahead of schedule. A major player in the multi-family residential market, it has delivered 45,000 units, 15 million square feet of office/industrial space and 250,000 square feet of retail. Eighty-five percent of its projects are commissioned by existing clients. Current Builders is consistently ranked for construction volume in Florida.
83. BoggsVickers (Travis Vickers, BDES ’95, M.ARCH ’97)
Imagine. Design. Build. Deliver. It’s from this premise BoggsVickers emerged in 2011 as a client-forward firm with one focus: create smart and responsive design. BoggsVickers was shaped to be intentional, yet fun; fresh, yet rooted in experience; inspirational, but not heavy on ego. In short, it gets to the point. The point where clients’ space meets unlimited architectural or interior design possibilities to deliver an environment where business thrives.
85. JK2 Construction (Rick Amundson, BBC ‘84, Paul Holmes, BSBA ’76)
JK2 Construction, a family-owned company founded in 1987, has become a leader in the construction industry. The company specializes in design-build commercial, retail, entertainment, restaurant, industrial, and amenity and time-share projects. JK2 Construction has completed projects throughout the nation, including work for major theme parks, themed restaurants and national homebuilders.
89. Miller Construction Management, Inc. (Corey Miller, BSBC ’98)
Founded in 2002 and specializing in commercial construction, Miller Construction has steadily grown its diverse portfolio throughout the Southeast. We pride ourselves in lasting relationships and our attention to detail. Scheduling, budget adherence and open communication has fostered these relationships. We provide the highest level of service to our clients to deliver projects on time and under budget.
95. DeAngelis Diamond (John DeAngelis, BSBC ’91, David Diamond, BBC ’85)
DeAngelis Diamond is an innovative, award-winning, nationally recognized construction management firm with more than 22 years of general contracting experience. DeAngelis Diamond specializes in commercial, multifamily and health care construction, with a strong presence across the United States and the Caribbean. DeAngelis Diamond is committed to building authentic relationships and is one of America’s fastest growing companies, according to Inc. 5000. It is annually listed on ENR’s Top 400 contractor’s list.
96. Marquis Latimer + Halback, Inc. (Jeremy Marquis, BLAE ’08)
Located in St. Augustine, Marquis Latimer + Halback, Inc. has earned a reputation for creating unique design solutions and compelling images of change. Offering a wide variety of planning design and management services, Gator graduates and principals Jeremy Marquis, Fremont Latimer and Fred Halback, along with their talented team, assess project conditions and values creating environments that are functional, creative and sustainable.
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