{"id":42779,"date":"2026-04-21T16:15:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T20:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/?p=42779"},"modified":"2026-05-20T09:23:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:23:13","slug":"sixteen-gator-engineers-earn-spots-on-the-2026-gator100-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/alumni-spotlight\/sixteen-gator-engineers-earn-spots-on-the-2026-gator100-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Sixteen Gator Engineers Earn Spots on the 2026 Gator100 List"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In April, the University of Florida Alumni Association continued its tradition of honoring entrepreneurial excellence through the Gator100, recognizing alumni who are building and scaling some of the most dynamic companies across the country and around the globe.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re proud to celebrate the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering alumni who were named to the 2026 Gator100, earning the distinction among the fastest-growing, Gator-led businesses worldwide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Engineering Awardees&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#3 KNACK<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>David Stoker<\/strong>,<strong> <\/strong>BSEEE \u201911, MS \u201913\u202f&nbsp;<br>Co-founder and CTO&nbsp;<br>Miami, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Founded in 2015, Knack is the leading student-success technology platform that enables higher-ed institutions to power and scale peer learning programs, making support more personalized and accessible for every student. Institutions such as Auburn, Florida, Fordham, Maine, Utah, Rutgers and dozens of others partner with Knack to identify, credential and deploy high-achieving students as paid peer tutors \u2014 expanding academic support while creating meaningful, skill-building work. Knack is backed by leading venture investors and education companies, including New Markets Venture Partners, Precursor Ventures, ETS.org, Chegg, Arizona State University Enterprise Partners, Village Capital and Bisk Ventures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#4 Everson Construction Group, LLC<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>John Everson,<\/strong>\u202fBSCE \u201917\u202f&nbsp;<br>President&nbsp;<br>Jacksonville, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everson Construction Group is a licensed general contractor offering commercial general contracting and construction management services across the Southeast, including Georgia and South Carolina. They are committed to providing value-added construction services to their customers by creating a successful partnership throughout the construction process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Everson Construction Group (ECG), their pledge is to establish lasting relationships with their customers by exceeding expectations and gaining trust through exceptional performance throughout the construction process. They strive to ensure the longevity of their company through repeat and referral business achieved by customer satisfaction in all areas. They pride themselves on their dedication to timeliness, detail and service-minded attitudes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company\u2019s actions are rooted in their core values of professionalism, integrity, honesty and fairness in their relationships with suppliers, subcontractors, professional associates and customers. The goal of every member of their construction team is to always provide customers with the highest level of quality construction services at fair and competitive market prices.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ECG was established in 2018 by John Everson, a UF graduate with a degree in civil engineering. He excels in securing contracts and delivering superior services, and his role as construction manager involves comprehensive project oversight, schedule adherence, budget maintenance and quality control. With expertise in commercial construction and renovations, construction consulting, planning and safety management, and more,&nbsp;Everson&nbsp;drives business development and operational excellence.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#7 Aligned Incentives\u202f<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Daniel\u202fCollotte,<\/strong>\u202fBSEE\u202f\u201914\u202f&nbsp;<br>Co-founder&nbsp;<br>Kyle, Texas&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aligned Incentives was founded in 2019 by six friends who met at a frequent flyer meetup in Austin, Texas. Along with a love of travel, they shared years of experience in the gift card industry \u2014 and the same frustration with outdated, inefficient reselling options. They knew there had to be a better way. Their platform was built to make gift card reselling clear, fast and profitable for everyone \u2014 from curious beginners to seasoned pros. With step-by-step guides, real-time deal alerts and insights on what cards to buy, where to find them and how to maximize returns, the company created a system that\u2019s easy to use and powerful enough to grow with their customers\u2019 business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#24 Pacifica Engineering Services, LLC\u202f<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wesley Foster,<\/strong>\u202fBSCE \u201912, MECE \u201913\u202f&nbsp;<br>President &amp; CEO&nbsp;<br>Delray Beach, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pacifica Engineering Services is a leading Florida-based engineering firm founded in 2017. What began as a small startup in Delray Beach has evolved into one of the fastest-growing private engineering firms in America, named to the Inc. 5000 for multiple consecutive years and ranked among the Top 10 Fastest-Growing Companies by the South Florida Business Journal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pacifica specializes in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, threshold inspections, private provider plan review and inspection, environmental consulting, vibration monitoring and permit expediting. With offices across Florida and a team of over 160 professionals, Pacifica supports landmark projects throughout the state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Driven by integrity, service and innovation, Pacifica continues to raise the standard for engineering in Florida. The firm\u2019s mission is simple: Deliver precision, reliability and speed. Pacifica\u2019s culture blends engineering excellence with entrepreneurial innovation, as seen in its in-house platform PlanCheckPro.AI, which uses artificial intelligence to automate plan reviews and accelerate permitting.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#30<\/strong> <strong>Admiral<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dan Rua<\/strong>,<strong> BSCSE\u202f\u201991\u202f<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>CEO&nbsp;<br>Gainesville, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Admiral, a visitor-relationship management company, helps thousands of digital publishers worldwide grow visitor relationships and revenue. Admiral&#8217;s AI-powered SaaS platform solves common monetization challenges with visitor journeys that include registration walls, paywalls and paid subscriptions, donation management, advanced adblock analytics and revenue recovery, GDPR\/GPP privacy consent, email acquisition, 1P data collection, social growth and more. Websites growing stronger visitor relationships with Admiral&#8217;s platform include CBSSports.com, CNBC.com, NYPost.com, and Weather.com.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#33 Hackenberg Engineering<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>James Hackenberg<\/strong>, BSME\u202f\u201901&nbsp;<br>Owner&nbsp;<br>Winter Park, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hackenberg Engineering is a design and commissioning management services company with LEED accredited specialists. The company specializes in a lean process approach for creative and innovative design solutions that are value added and customer-service focused. Project experience includes healthcare-facilities design, data centers, churches, municipalities and commercial applications. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#49<\/strong> <strong>Hydro-Dyne Engineering, Inc.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jay R. Conroy<\/strong>, BABA \u201900, BSEN\u202f\u201900&nbsp;<br>President&nbsp;<br>Clearwater, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hydro-Dyne Engineering is a leading designer and manufacturer of quality screening and grit-removal equipment, dedicated to serving municipal and industrial water and wastewater facilities around the world. With more than 45 years of industry experience,&nbsp;Hydro-Dyne&nbsp;focuses on delivering customer value through innovative, reliable and durable solutions that address unique operational needs. Hydro-Dyne specializes in advanced wastewater treatment equipment engineered for diverse applications to meet the demands of modern water and wastewater treatment systems.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company\u2019s dedication to quality and innovation is reflected in its in-house manufacturing approach. Hydro-Dyne is unique in owning all its patents, allowing it to design, fabricate, assemble, test and service every piece of equipment under one roof. This hands-on approach to manufacturing gives them unparalleled control over the entire process, from concept to completion, ensuring consistent quality and fostering continuous improvement. The company\u2019s commitment to innovation is demonstrated in its patented technologies, many of which set new industry standards for screening performance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A cornerstone of their philosophy is Build America, Buy America, which reflects Hydro-Dyne\u2019s commitment to producing high-quality, American-made products. With all aspects of their operations conducted at its Clearwater headquarters, including design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly and testing, they support the American economy and workforce, ensuring customers receive products that are as reliable as they are resilient.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#52\u202fDatex, Inc.<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Andrew Armanious<\/strong>, BSCE \u201902; BSEE \u201902, MSBA \u201905\u202f&nbsp;<br>CSO, Co-Owner&nbsp;<br>Clearwater, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more than 47 years, Datex has delivered enterprise-grade warehouse management software (WMS) and technology solutions purpose-built for 3PLs, cold storage providers and businesses in highly regulated industries such as food, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Headquartered in Clearwater, Datex helps logistics operators simplify complexity and ensure compliance with capabilities including catch weight, lot traceability, multi-temperature management, audit-ready reporting and advanced 3PL billing.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike entry-level systems or rebranded competitors, Datex has remained privately held and true to its name since 1978, providing clients with stability, reliability and a trusted partner in navigating today\u2019s supply chain challenges. Backed by a team of logistics and technology experts, Datex combines innovative software with hands-on support to streamline operations, strengthen client trust and deliver measurable business results.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#68 JK2 Scenic<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Julie Homes,<\/strong>\u202fBSCE\u202f\u201901\u202f&nbsp;<br>President&nbsp;<br>Apopka, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>JK2 Scenic focuses on building dreams and bringing unique construction visions to life in creative ways. The company specializes in themed architectural millwork, custom props and specialty items for retail, attractions, entertainment, hospitality and restaurant clients. Founded in 2008 as part of the JK2 family of companies, JK2 Scenic became its own company in 2017. Led by President Julie Holmes, 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&#8217;s Fast 50 list. JK2 Scenic provides creative solutions to uncommon ideas and has worked with world-class theme parks and national brands.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#74 Nibbo\u202f<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fernando Barroso,<\/strong>\u202fBSIS \u201918\u202f&nbsp;<br>Founder, CEO&nbsp;<br>Miami, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nibbio turns operational chaos into revenue. They deploy AI-powered automation for SMB and mid-market teams in homebuilding, logistics and distribution&nbsp;\u2014 and then run it for them. Quotes go out, schedules fill, invoices reconcile and follow-ups happen automatically with minimal disruption.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They have codified what used to take Fortune 150s millions to build&nbsp;\u2014 workflow know-how, AI agents and integration logic&nbsp;\u2014 into repeatable playbooks. Clients go live in 30 days. They operate the system, track performance and keep tuning. The customers pay for outcomes, not hours.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The business advantage: higher revenue per employee, faster cash flow and fewer errors. The Nibbo team has delivered more than $10 million in annual savings at enterprise scale; now they prove the same rigor works for everyday operators with profitably and repeatability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<br><strong>#77 Campbell Spellicy Engineering<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kevin Spellicy,<\/strong>\u202fBSME\u202f\u201909\u202f&nbsp;<br>President &amp; Principal Engineer&nbsp;<br>Gainesville, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Campbell Spellicy Engineering (CSEI) is a full-service mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering firm specializing in commercial, educational and municipal renovation and new construction projects. Based in Gainesville, CSEI is built on a foundation of integrity and people-first engineering solutions. Since its founding in 2000, CSEI continues to expand with a culture that values collaboration, work-life balance and purpose-driven design.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#78 Chen Moore and Associates, Inc.<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Peter Moore,<\/strong>\u202fBSCE \u201997; ME \u201904\u202f&nbsp;<br>CEO&nbsp;<br>Fort Lauderdale, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chen Moore and Associates, founded in 1986, is a Florida-based engineering and planning firm. For four decades, it has provided high-quality solutions aligned with clients\u2019 goals, schedules and funding requirements. As a community-driven, people-forward and client-centered organization, it believes strong relationships build strong projects and lasting partnerships. This is why it delivers service, leadership and meaningful results for the communities it serves. The company\u2019s commitment pushes it further to actively support and invest in the communities where they live and work through philanthropy and professional involvement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ChenMoore is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, with offices throughout the state and the Southeast. Its services focus on civil engineering, water resources, water and sewer solutions, transportation, environmental solutions, electrical engineering, landscape architecture, planning, irrigation and construction administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#88 CROM<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Alexander\u202fCiasca,<\/strong>\u202fBSEN\u202f\u201906\u202f&nbsp;<br>Senior VP of Development&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Robert\u202fOyenarte,<\/strong>\u202fBSCE \u201997\u202f\u00a0<br>CEO\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gainesville, Florida\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CROM is a water infrastructure solutions provider dedicated to the innovation, design, construction, restoration and maintenance of the nation\u2019s essential infrastructure. Its portfolio of comprehensive solutions includes prestressed concrete tanks, CROM2 watertight tensioned straight wall tanks and end-to-end restoration services for the nation\u2019s water\/wastewater facilities and other essential infrastructure.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CROM is committed to the safe delivery of high-quality, long-lasting, comprehensive turnkey solutions that support communities and industries, while fostering innovation and excellence. The organization is built on the core values of respect, honesty, team unity and integrity with the sole purpose of providing each client with the quality they expect and deserve.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Headquartered in Gainesville with five regional offices throughout the United States, CROM has been shaping the nation\u2019s infrastructure since 1953. CROM has delivered more than 7,000 combined prestressed concrete tanks and infrastructure restoration projects under design-build delivery.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#90 IC2<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>David Mills,<\/strong>\u202fMS \u201910, Ph.D. \u201914\u202f&nbsp;<br>President and co-owner&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>William Patterson,<\/strong>\u202fBSEEE \u201911, MS \u201913, Ph.D. \u201915\u202f&nbsp;<br>Vice president and co-owner&nbsp;<br>Gainesville, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Headquartered in Gainesville, IC2 was founded in 2001 by three UF professors to offer consulting services and provide a commercialization path for technology developed in the UF Interdisciplinary Microsystems Group (IMG), specifically in the areas of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) instrumentation, flow control, acoustics and smart materials. Today, IC2 is a recognized leader in precision measurement solutions for the aerospace research community and beyond.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They advance aerodynamic and aeroacoustic testing through innovative sensor technologies, specializing in developing and manufacturing MEMS sensors, data acquisition systems and instrumentation tailored for demanding environments such as wind tunnels, flight tests and high-temperature propulsion systems. IC2\u2019s product portfolio includes wall shear stress sensors, fluctuating pressure sensors, aeroacoustic microphones and wireless data acquisition systems, many of which leverage technologies originally developed in the IMG labs at UF.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond commercial products, IC2 offers consulting services in MEMS design and fabrication, sensor packaging and electronics engineering. Driven by innovation and collaboration, IC2 continues to expand its capabilities, empowering aerospace researchers worldwide with precision tools that push the boundaries of measurement science.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IC2 has continued to engage with the UF scientific community through use of the cleanroom in the UF Nanoscale Research Facility (NRF), membership in the MIST Center, subcontracting to UF faculty through the SBIR\/STTR program and participation in recruitment events, the NRF External Advisory Board, Florida Semiconductor Institute meetings and industry panels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#32 Rave Doctor<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Scott Bartnick<\/strong>, BSISE \u201815&nbsp;<br>Managing partner&nbsp;<br>St. Petersburg, Florida&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This 5-HTP supplement is designed to support overall well-being, with a focus on mood, balance and recovery. Inspired by a passion for health, community and science-backed wellness, it provides high-quality ingredients that help promote a sense of calm while maintaining healthy serotonin levels and supporting the body\u2019s natural recovery process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Formulated by experts and made with clean ingredients, this supplement is crafted to encourage better sleep, improved mood and balanced energy throughout the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see the full list visit <a href=\"https:\/\/gator100.ufl.edu\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.gator100.ufl.edu<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re proud to celebrate the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering alumni who were named to the 2026 Gator100, earning the distinction among the fastest-growing, Gator-led businesses worldwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":36757,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-templates\/single-sidebar-none.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"featured_post":"off","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3,43,57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni-spotlight","category-honors-awards","category-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42779"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42779\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42783,"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42779\/revisions\/42783"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eng.ufl.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}