Seven Firms are Finalists for CFDC’s Success in Small Business Award
Finalists for the Central Florida Development Council’s Jim Brantley Economic Development Award – Success in Small Business each use their experience to build and maintain relationships to better serve their customers.
The winner of the Success in Small Business award will be announced at the CFDC’s annual meeting on September 26th at the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus in Lakeland. Last year, Gulf Coast Avionics won the award.
The Success in Small Business Award is named for Brantley, the first director of the agency now known as the CFDC. It is given to a business, institution or organization with fewer than 100 employees that champions growth, free enterprise, economic stability and community service.
Success in Small Business Finalists
This year’s finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
“Small businesses are the heart and soul of any community, and these nominees reflect the positive attributes found in Polk County,” said CFDC President & CEO Sean Malott. “They contribute their invaluable services, provide jobs in critical sectors and give back to the place they call home.”
A.O. Construction Company
A.O. Construction Co. offers preconstruction services, construction management, and general contracting and trade work. This also includes demolition, concrete, masonry, carpentry, steel erection and drywall. Its mission is to provide high-quality construction services on time and within budget while maintaining long-lasting relationships.
“Being nominated for CFDC Jim Brantley Success in Small Business Award is a great honor for us,” said Olmert, President of the Winter Haven company. “It is the validation of our hard work, dedication and commitment to our customers, employees and community. It acknowledges the effort and passion that every member of our team puts into the relationships and projects every day. This nomination is not just about recognition to us; it is about the relationships we have built and the impact we are making in our industry.”
A.O.’s biggest accomplishment has been “the sustained growth of 35% on average over the last five years. This allowed us to acquire another construction company this past year to expand our reach throughout the Central Florida area, putting us on track for 50% growth in 2024.”
Center State Development
Harold “Reggie” Baxter and Bob Adams partnered in 2019 to create Center State Development. Center State is a Winter Haven business that buys raw land, entitles it, engineers it, permits it and completes all the civil site work. They then sell the lots to national and local home builders, who build and sell houses. Builders include such national companies as Centex and Lennar, which build workforce housing.
Brent Elliott, Center State’s Chief Financial Officer, said: “We are honored to be nominated for this award for the third consecutive year because it represents recognition of our consistent hard work and commitment to excellence. This nomination validates our efforts to provide affordable housing to working families, and it motivates us to continue striving forward.”
“Through countless hours of hard work and determination, even in the face of opposition, we were able to preserve 1,300+ acres of key conservation property in the heart of the Florida Wildlife Corridor,” Elliott said. “This property will be protected from future development, as Poinciana is nearby and constantly expanding.”
CPS Investment Advisors
CPS, founded in 1975 by the late Chas P. Smith, offers everything from investments and financial planning to tax preparation.
“CPS Investment Advisors is deeply honored to be nominated for the Jim Brantley Success in Small Business Award,” said Erica M. Lupercio, Brand Director and Partner. “This nomination recognizes our firm’s commitment to embodying the principles of integrity, community service and client dedication.”
“For over four decades, our team has worked tirelessly to deliver personalized financial guidance, fostering economic growth and stability within our community. Being acknowledged in the memory of Jim Brantley, a figure synonymous with entrepreneurial spirit and community impact, truly validates the hard work and passion of our entire team. This nomination not only celebrates our past achievements but also inspires us to continue our mission of empowering small businesses and individual investors to achieve their financial dreams.”
The firm has experienced tremendous growth, allowing it to name new partners and a chief investment officer, and increasing its employees to 60 overall. “This season of continued growth has allowed us to prosper as a business, introducing new technologies and services to further elevate our client experience as we look ahead to our 50th anniversary milestone in 2025.”
Marcobay Construction
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, Marcobay Construction is still going strong, leaving its mark on local construction.
“Marcobay Construction is privileged to have been nominated as a finalist for the Jim Brantley Success in Small Business Award, and especially honored as the nomination came from a consortium of the most respected and successful businesses in Polk County,” said Project Manager Drew Phillips.
John Andras founded Marcobay in 1974. Andras was a local structural engineer who had been building houses and doing some light commercial work on the side of his main job, said Marcobay President Jimmy Vessels. In 1989, Howard Bayless joined Andras Engineering & Construction, followed by Steve Cowperthwaite and Mark Phillips.
When Andras retired, the company name changed to Andras Construction, then, in 1996, to Marcobay. The name is a compilation – “Mar” for Mark (Phillips), “co” for (Steve) Cowperthwaite and “bay” for (Howard) Bayless.
The company’s highlights include many local buildings, including one it’s working on now. In the last year, “Among many highlights, Marcobay Construction is especially proud to have started work on the brand-new Salvation Army Community Center that will service the residents of northwest Lakeland,” Phillips said.
Rita Staffing
Founded in 1973, Rita Staffing turned 50 in 2023. It has offices in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Plant City, along with Rita Technology in Tampa, Sunshine Staffing in Sebring and an office in Bradenton. It has plans to open two other office locations.
“We are incredibly honored to be nominated for this award,” said Lisa Hall, Director of Business Development. “Each day we strive to help job seekers find careers and companies find the best fit for their organization. We are celebrating our 51st year in business in Central Florida and always adhere to our mission, which is ethics and integrity in all we do.”
At its heart, the company helps those in need. “In the last nine months or so, we have helped over a thousand people find employment locally,” Hall said. “Our employees are also helping companies meet their business needs through our customized staffing solutions.”
“We are extremely proud of our efforts to help our employees and community in need. Through our ‘Rita Cares’ program we have helped our employees purchase necessary uniform requirements and gas cards. And, we fulfilled over 30 individual holiday wish lists last December. We also did toy/gift drives for Toys for Tots, Rudolph Round-Up (Heartland for Children), SPCA and various food pantries. We live and work here, and all try to do our part to make a difference each day.”
Straughn Trout Architects
Straughn Trout Architects provides services ranging from architectural, engineering and interior design to planning and visioning facilitation. Approaching its 70th year in operation, the firm is now led by managing principal Tim Hoeft. It continues the work of founder Ernest Straughn, building relationships and completing projects on-time and on-budget.
“Our office is again honored to be recognized with the nomination. The work and vision of CFDC’s leadership and member investors has sustained our county as the epicenter of Florida’s perennial growth in recent years. This group represents a true cross-section of our firm’s business partners and friends,” Hoeft said.
Hoeft is proud of the work his company does. “It is difficult to single out one highlight as we continue to celebrate project milestones with many clients on projects large and small. As a legacy project and partnership of the firm, we are thrilled to see the long-awaited and much anticipated expansion of the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College take form concurrently with recognition by AIA Florida with a ‘Test of Time’ Award for the original structure’s design, also authored by our firm and completed in 1988.”
Two Blue Aces
Two Blue Aces is a strategy, leadership and solutions consulting firm founded by retired Air Force Maj. Gen. H.D. “Jake” Polumbo and his wife, Sandra. The team includes five other retired Air Force generals.
“Our Two Blue Aces team is honored to be nominated for the Jim Brantley Success in Small Business award. We are truly a small company with only 10 people working for us, but we feel we pack a big punch since our consultants come from across the U.S.,” Polumbo said.
It has consulting contracts and leader development programs with the U.S. Defense Primes, several medium-sized defense technology companies, the Yuba County Water Agency in California and a law group in Lakeland. “We’re truly a small Florida company that has a big impact across the U.S.”
Polumbo said Two Blue Aces’ biggest accomplishments this past year was signing contract extensions with two divisions of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems. And, with the strategy team at Florida Polytechnic University. As well as a new research and development Memorandum of Understanding with the University of California at Davis. “We also continue to market and talk about our second book on Leadership Development, ‘Leadership at 100 Feet’.”
