Five businesses in SW Florida among 50 chosen as 'Companies to Watch'

Five businesses in Southwest Florida have been named "Companies to Watch."

The companies are among 50 chosen for the designation this year. They were selected from more than 90 finalists in a statewide competition that highlights companies that expect to see strong growth over the coming years.

The local winners are: 

• ArgoTrak, a GPS solutions company in Naples.
• AXI International, a fuel management and fuel filtration solutions company in Fort Myers.
• Benseron Hospitality, a global technology and services firm in Naples.
• Oasis Senior Advisors, a senior housing placement service in Bonita Springs.
• Vectra Digital, a digital marketing firm in Fort Myers

The awards program is run by GrowFL, in cooperation with the Edward Lowe Foundation.

In case you missed it:Southwest Florida has companies that are 'worth watching'

More:Growing local companies land on Inc. 5000 list

“We’re thrilled to have been honored by GrowFL, and we’re even more excited about what comes next,” Oasis Senior Advisors CEO Tim Evankovich said in a news release. “This is a testament to our business model of compassionate, personal service, and to all our franchisees dedicated to helping seniors and their families find the right place to live.”

GrowFL is a statewide economic development organization that tries to help companies overcome obstacles to growth and achieve prosperity.

Florida Companies To Watch was developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation to seek businesses from a wide range of industries representing all areas of the state. In addition to evaluating past growth and projected success, companies are judged on their special strengths and impact in their markets, communities and the state.

There were more than 500 nominees for the honor this year.

Winners stood out for their effective management teams, competitive market positions and strong community involvement.

"These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow," Tom O'Neal, GrowFL's executive director, said in a news release. "They also have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets." 

The program is designed to highlight companies with six to 150 full-time employees and revenue between $750,000 and $100 million.

More:More than a dozen local companies make Inc. 5000 list for growth

More:The Rocket Lounge business incubator, accelerator closes office space in Naples

Combined, the 2018 Companies to Watch winners generated almost $1 billion in revenue and added nearly 1,000 jobs between 2014 and 2017. Together, they expect a 50 percent increase in revenue and a 40 percent increase in job growth this year compared with 2017.

An awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2019, at the Straz Performing Arts Center in Tampa.

For more information about the awards, see growfl.com/flctw18/.