The Gator100 recognizes and celebrates the 100 fastest-growing Gator-owned or Gator-led businesses in the world each year. The awards ceremony to recognize this year’s honorees was held on the main University of Florida campus today. Congratulations to our talented alums who made the list for leading one of the world’s Fastest Growing Gator Companies!
No. 5 — First Florida Constructors
Greg Wyka
1995 B.S. Civil Engineering
Greg Wyka is president of First Florida, the state’s leading multi-family housing contractor, skilled in the construction of both market-rate and affordable apartment housing. Wyka has managed over $700 million in construction projects, having built over 28,000 housing units, hotels and elderly housing facilities and has been involved in multiple Green Building certified projects. http://firstflorida.com/
No. 14 — Power Production Management, Inc.
Jason Gonos
2005 B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Jason Gonos is the director and co-founder of Power Production Management, Inc., a solar development firm working with global energy infrastructure. A mechanical engineer with a passion for helping the world through solar energy, Gonos works to promote the accessibility and use of solar energy technology within the Gainesville community.
https://powerproductionmanagement.com/
No. 23 — Paragon 28
Albert DaCosta
1998 B.S. Chemical Engineering
Albert DaCosta is the co-founder, president and CEO of Paragon 28, a manufacturer that develops and produces biomechanically and clinically relevant surgical solutions for the lower extremities. DaCosta has led his team in providing products that result in better surgical outcomes for patients. DaCosta’s company is a sponsor of Steps2Walk, a charitable organization taking care of people in international communities who have a crippling deformity and providing free surgery to help them walk. http://www.paragon28.com/
No. 29 — J2 Solutions, Inc.
Jess Fronckowiak
2000 B. S. Civil Engineering
Jess Fronckowiak founded J2 Solutions, Inc., in 2002 and has transitioned it from a one-man start-up to a full-service, self-performing, design-build, construction management firm, servicing the entire state of Florida. His company has won numerous awards, including Business of the Year, Contractor of the Year and induction into the prestigious “BIG-50 Remodeling Contractors” from Remodeling Magazine. Today, as president of J2 Solutions, Inc., Fronckowiak splits his time between commercial business development and strategic planning. https://j2solutionsinc.com/
David Fouche
2001 B. S. Civil Engineering; 2002 M.E. Civil Engineering
David Fouche is co-owner and executive vice president of J2 Solutions, Inc., with the vision of growing the firm into a premier commercial contracting company. Fouche’s experience and knowledge in Health Care operations allowed him to earn the distinction of Certified Health Care Constructor (CHC) by the American Hospital Association. His current duties include leading the operations of the company, as well as all Health Care projects within acute care hospitals all over the state of Florida. https://j2solutionsinc.com/
No. 36 — JAX Refrigeration, Inc.
Mark Lowery
1990 B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Mark Lowery founded JAX Refrigeration in 2010, after more than two decades in the refrigeration and HVAC industry. He is licensed in more than 40 States and provinces for professional engineering and contracting and is an active member of ASHRAE, IIAR, NCEES and RETA. As president of JAX Refrigeration, he has established a charitable foundation, JAXCares, helping support inspiring individuals and charitable organizations through fundraising and events. JAXCares has contributed to more than 30 civic, charitable and educational organizations. https://www.jaxrefrigeration.com/
No. 40 — Protean Design Group, Inc.
Kimberly C. Horlander
1989 B.S. Civil Engineering
Kimberly Horlander is a founding principal and president of Protean Design Group, Inc., a multi-disciplined civil engineering consulting firm with expertise in transportation, traffic, and lighting. While Horlander’s main expertise is in the structural design of highway bridges, retaining walls and miscellaneous structures, she is also experienced in the areas of traffic and storm water engineering. As a member of both ASCE and FES, Horlander has served in leadership roles on numerous committees during her career, including Engineers Week (Chairman) and Engineering Management Forum (President). https://proteandg.com/
Scott Horlander
1988 B.S. Civil Engineering
Scott Horlander, vice president and principal of Protean Design Group, Inc., has a broad range of experience, spanning more than 22 years, includes roadway design, traffic engineering and traffic studies, highway lighting and drainage design. As a member of ASCE, FES and ASHE, he has served in various leadership and involvement roles. https://proteandg.com/
David Reed
1989 B.S. Civil Engineering
As Manager of Highway Design for Protean Design Group, as well as a principal in the company, David Reed offers clients more than 20 years of highway engineering experience, ranging from minor intersection improvements to complex interchange design. In addition to his extensive technical experience, Reed has been an active member of various technical societies including ASCE and FES. https://proteandg.com/
No. 41 — ROI Healthcare Solutions
Mario Henao Emiliani
1998 B.S. Industrial & Systems Engineering
Mario Henao Emiliani is a Client Services Executive at ROI Healthcare Solutions, LLC, providing both technical and functional support across various aspects of clients’ IT organizations. ROI strives to achieve optimal integration of end-user processes with available technology and maximize each client’s ROI in their healthcare information technology (IT) investment. https://roihs.com/
No. 69 — AE Engineering, Inc.
Roderick Myrick
1996 B.S. Civil Engineering
Roderick Myrick is owner and president of AE Engineering, Inc., a Florida based DBE/SBE Civil Engineering firm dedicated to providing Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) project managing and staffing. Myrick brings a thorough understanding of the South Florida construction market and has an excellent reputation of delivering projects on time and within budget for all his clients. http://aeengineeringinc.com
Cory Nichols
1994 B.S. Civil Engineering, 2000 M.E. Civil Engineering
Cory Nichols is senior vice president at AE Engineering, Inc., a Florida based DBE/SBE Civil Engineering firm dedicated to providing Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) project managing and staffing. Nichols is a partner in AE Engineering, Inc., bringing his experience and relationships throughout Florida to grow the company and advance the vision of becoming one of the premier engineering companies in the state. http://aeengineeringinc.com
No. 70 — JK2 Scenic
Julie Holmes
2001 B. S. Civil Engineering
Julie Holmes is president of JK2 Scenic, a spin-off of JK2 Construction, a woman-owned specialty construction firm a full service theming contractor providing unique projects in the retail, theme park, entertainment, hospitality, and restaurant industries. Under Holmes’ leadership, the company has seen amazing growth and has been honored numerous times, receiving multiple Associated Builders and Contractors Eagle Awards and making the Orlando Business Journal’s Fast 50 list. http://www.jk2.com/scenic/
No. 82 — Friedland Vining
David Friedland
1985 B.S. Computer & Information Sciences, 1988 J.D. Law
David Friedland is co-founder of Friedland Vining, a top intellectual property law firm in South Florida that advises, negotiates and executes transactions involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and domain names and guide clients on how to obtain, protect, commercialize and transfer intellectual property rights. Friedland is actively involved in key industry associations, including the American Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the International Trademark Association, where he is a member of the Panel of Trademark Mediators and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. http://friedlandvining.com/
No. 93 — Vector Firm
Chris Peterson
1994 B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Chris Peterson is the co-founder and president of Vector Firm, the premier sales management consulting firm focused on the security industry. Today, Chris focuses his 20 years of experience in sales leadership on developing strategies, processes, and tools for technology businesses in the security space. A resident of Orlando, Chris is an active volunteer in the Odyssey of the Mind educational program and a contributor to the Easter Seals Camp Challenge of Central Florida. https://vectorfirm.com/
No. 99 — Tropical Smoothie Café
Scott Pressly
1990 B.S. Chemical Engineering
Scott Pressly is chairman of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a casual cafe with over 540 locations across the United States. His leadership is credited for boosting the regional franchise into one of the fastest growing franchise brands in the country. Outside of Tropical Smoothie, Pressly is co-founder and partner at BIP Capital, which focuses on high-growth companies in industries such as franchising and software. https://www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com/