Four local companies honored by GrowFL

SARASOTA COUNTY — Four local companies were among the 50 statewide chosen for the GrowFL “2017 Florida Companies to Watch.”

The companies are AdRizer, Ken Bond, co-founder/CEO; Big Top Brewing Co. LLC, Mike Bisaha, CEO; Clickbooth, Erin Cigich, CEO; and Lightspeed Voice, Brad Fuller, CEO.

The listing from GrowFL — a program created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and based at the University of Central Florida — is in its seventh year and honors 50 second-stage companies developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities and creating new industries throughout Florida.

GrowFL said the 50 companies — from 2013 through 2016 — generated more than $1 billion in revenue and added more than 1,300 employees, reflecting a 137 percent increase in revenue and 219 percent increase in employment for the four-year period. That translates into a 30 percent annual growth rate for revenue and a 50 percent annual growth rate for employment.

The local companies were selected from among more than 500 nominees throughout Florida.

"The winning company's management team, competitive market position and strong community involvement were among several factors that put them in contention for the award," the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County said in a release congratulating the firms. "Please join us in congratulating these forward-thinking leaders and wish them well as they continue to grow their companies!"

The Grow Sarasota program is run in coordination with the statewide GrowFL program. Since its inception six years ago, the program has supported the growth of some of our community’s fastest growing companies and led to significant local job creation.

The 2017 Florida Companies to Watch awards ceremony will be Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. For more information, please visit GrowFL.com/flctw17.