The Big 87

The people who tout Southwest Florida's business environment definitely have the evidence to back it up. Bosses and workers appreciate our lifestyle and climate. And our surging population provides plenty of opportunity for generating revenues. But it's the numbers posted year after year that are the most telling: Simply put, success happens here.

Gulfshore Business' annual "Top Companies" list offers a glimpse of our highest-performing public and private businesses, ranked by 2004 sales or revenues. Once again, a vast majority enjoyed sales increases, despite the nasty bouts with last summer's damaging hurricanes. This year's list includes two new members of the billion-dollar club (for a total of six) and 35 companies generating $100 million or more-up from 27 in 2003. And our threshold for inclusion in the ranking grew from $10 million to $11 million.

Most of the information we publish was provided by the companies. When they declined to share their revenues, we turned to a variety of sources. All estimates are marked as such.

And while we're always looking for new top companies, we do exclude some-physicians, hotel chains and investment firms, for example-because their reporting practices don't jibe with those of the other businesses on our list, making it hard to rank them comparatively.

The business landscape changes quickly in our region, so we may have overlooked qualified companies. If that's the case, please contact Gulfshore Business editor Phil Borchmann at 9051 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 202, Naples, FL 34108 or philb@gulfshorebusiness.com.

1. Health Management Associates (Collier)
Operator of non-urban, acute-care hospitals throughout the United States
Chief executive: Joseph V. Vumbacco
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $3.2 billion
2003: $2.6 billion
Employees: 30,000
Founded: 1977
www.hma-corp.com
Received state approval to build a 100-bed acute-care hospital in Collier County.

2. Abbey Carpet Company Inc. (Lee)
Franchiser of floor covering and window treatment stores
Chief executive: Philip Gutierrez
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $1.85 billion
2003: $1.8 billion
Employees: 68
Founded: 1958
www.abbeycarpet.com

3. WCI Communities (Lee)
Developer of master-planned communities and luxury condo towers
Chief executive: Jerry Starkey
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $1.8 billion
2003: $1.4 billion
Employees: 4,500
Founded: 1946
www.wcicommunities.com
Awarded America's Best Builder in 2004 by the National Association of Home Builders. Offers luxury tower and traditional homes throughout Florida, the Northeastern U.S. and Washington, D.C.'s metropolitan markets. Also generates revenues from its Prudential Florida WCI Realty Division, its mortgage and title businesses, and through land sales and joint ventures.

4. Lee Memorial Health System (Lee)
Community-owned healthcare delivery system
Chief executive: James R. Nathan
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $1.43 billion
2003: $1.234 billion
Employees: 6,159; 889 physicians, 2,987 volunteers
Founded: 1916
www.leememorial.org
Largest community-owned healthcare system in the area. Member of the Voluntary Hospitals of America and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The system includes three acute-care hospital locations, each named as one of America's 100 Top Hospitals.

5. NCH Healthcare System (Collier)
Not-for-profit hospital and healthcare affiliates
Chief executive: Edward Morton
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $1.2 billion
2003: $954 million
Employees: 3,700
Founded: 1956
www.nchmd.org
Comprises Naples Community Hospital and several community health centers, as well as the Regional Heart Institute and Regional Cancer Institute. A recipient of the 2005 HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence.

6. Chico's FAS Inc. (Lee)
Specialty retailer of women's clothing and accessories
Chief executive: Scott A. Edmonds
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $1 billion
2003: $769 million
Employees: 9,200 nationwide; 730 in Fort Myers
Founded: 1983
www.chicos.com
Owns and operates 659 women's specialty stores.

7. Stock Development (Collier)
Real estate developer
Chief executive: Brian Stock
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $608 million
2003: $221 million
Employees: 500
Founded: 2001
www.stockdevelopment.com
Currently developing Lely Resort Golf & Country Club and Olde Cypress in Naples, Grandézza in Estero, Paseo in Fort Myers and Vivante in Punta Gorda. Companies include Stock Construction, Stock Realty, Stock Property Management, Stock Community Services, Pizzazz Interiors, Serenity Pool & Spa, Noble Title & Trust and Stock Financial.

8. Cleveland Clinic Florida (Collier)
Not-for-profit specialty medical-care provider
Chief executive: Robert J. Zehr, M.D.
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $385 million
2003: $298.5 million
Employees: 910
Founded: 1999
www.clevelandclinicflorida.org
Fully integrated medical campus includes 60-plus physicians representing more than 30 medical specialties, a radiology department, surgery center and hospital with 83 private rooms and a 24-hour emergency room. Physicians have been included in Castle Connolly Medical's annual list of America's Top Doctors.

9. Source Interlink Companies Inc. (Lee)
Direct-to-retail magazine distributor
Chief executive: S. Leslie Flegel
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $370 million (unaudited)
2003: $333 million
Employees: 1,229
Founded: 1995
www.sourceinterlink.com
Direct-to-retail magazine distributor provides marketing and front-end management services to publishers, retailers and vendors throughout North America. Leading custom designer and manufacturer of fixture displays for publishing, confectionary and general merchandise products.

10. Germain Motor Company (Collier)
Automotive dealer group
Chief executive: Robert L. Germain Jr.
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $367 million
2003: $325 million
Employees: 465 (in Florida)
Founded: 1947
www.germaincars.com
Lincoln Mercury Elite Certified Dealer and Top 25 volume dealer nationwide in 2004. Celebrating its 25-year anniversary in Naples.

11. Kraft Construction (Collier)
Construction manager/general contractor
Chief executive: F. Fred Pezeshkan
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $360 million
2003: $322 million
Employees: 350
Founded: 1968
www.kraftconstruction.com
Specializes in educational, commercial, governmental, healthcare and multi-family residential and high-rise condominium construction. Ranked one of the fastest-growing companies in the country in 2003.

12. Pulte Homes Inc. (Lee)
Home builder
Chief executive: Richard J. Dugas Jr.
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $347.5 million locally; $11.7 billion nationally
2003: $151.8 million locally; $9 billion nationally
Employees: 80 (locally)
Founded: 1952
www.pulte.com
National home-building company based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., with operations in 45 markets and 27 states. Bonita Springs-based Southwest Florida division behind such projects as Colonial Country Club in Fort Myers, Milano in north Naples and three Sandoval neighborhoods in Cape Coral. The inaugural recipient of J.D. Power and Associates' Platinum Award for Excellence in Customer Service. Other operations include Del Webb, DiVosta and Pulte Mortgage.

13. First Home Builders of Florida (Lee)
Home builder
Chief executive: Fred Hermann
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $308 million
2003: $150 million
Employees: 660
Founded: 1996
www.firsthomebuilders.com
Recently recognized with two Gold Awards from the National Sales & Marketing Council and the National Association of Home Builders.

14. Arthrex Inc. (Collier)
Designer and manufacturer of surgical devices for arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine
Chief executive: Reinhold Schmieding
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $275 million
2003: $210 million
Employees: 150 in Naples, 400 total
Founded: 1981
www.arthrex.com
Received the award for advertising achievement from the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery in September 2003. Exclusive sponsor of two online medical publications, Arthroscopy Journal and Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery.

15. DeVoe Automotive Group (Collier)
Auto dealerships
Chief executive: Mark A. DeVoe
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $265 million
2003: $250 million
Employees: 350
Founded: 1968
www.devoeauto.com
Dealerships in Naples include DeVoe Cadillac, DeVoe Saab-Isuzu and DeVoe Pontiac Buick GMC. In Bonita Springs: DeVoe Infiniti, DeVoe Volvo, DeVoe Pontiac Buick GMC and a new Hummer showroom completed in April 2005. DeVoe has won several customer satisfaction awards, and many of its dealerships are ranked top in the country.

16. Robb & Stucky (Lee)
Retailer of home furnishings for indoor, outdoor and interior design
Chief executive: Clive Lubner
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $260 million
2003: $220 million
Employees: 1,200-plus
Founded: 1915
www.robbstucky.com
Opened two new Robb & Stucky Interiors showrooms in 2005, one in Bonita Springs and the other in Tampa. Also expanded the Casual Living Outdoor concept with a showroom in Bonita Springs, incorporating a culinary center with a cooking school for home enthusiasts led by an on-staff executive chef. Plans to increase its presence along Florida's east coast with an Interiors showroom in Coral Gables.

17. Fifth Third Bank (Collier)
Banking, investment and electronic payment processing service
Chief executive: Kevin Hale
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $257 million (Florida)
2003: $234 million
Employees: 1,346
Founded: 1989 (locally)
www.53.com
Acquired First National Bankshares of Florida in 2005.

18. Scanlon Auto Group (Lee)
Automobile sales and service
Chief executive: John E. Scanlon
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $256.54 million
2003: $236.8 million
Employees: 236
Founded: 1980
www.scanlonauto.com
Comprises Lincoln Mercury, Lexus, Mazda and Acura franchises. CEO John Scanlon nominated for the Ford Motor Company's Salute to Dealers Award for providing outstanding products and services while improving the lives of those in need in their communities.

19. Boran Craig Barber Engel (Collier)
General contractor
Chief executive: Melvin L. Engel Jr.
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $202.9 million (estimated, Dun & Bradstreet)
2003: $202 million
Employees: 300
Founded: 1972
www.bcbe.com

20. Barron Collier Companies (Collier)
Real estate development, agriculture and oil operations
Chief executive: Paul J. Marinelli
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $200 million-plus
2003: $100 million-plus
Employees: more than 1,000
Founded: 1920s
www.barroncollier.com
Business ventures include agricultural operations in three divisions: Silver Strand Farms, Silver Strand Groves and the Immokalee Ranch Partnership. Currently developing Ave Maria Town east of Naples in conjunction with Ave Maria University.

21. Raymond Building Supply Corp. (Lee)
Full-service building material supplier and manufacturer for contractors
Chief executive: Charlie Babb
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $190 million
2003: $140 million
Employees: 820
Founded: 1957
www.rbsc.net
Ranked as one of the top independent lumber companies in the United States.

22. Oswald Trippe and Company Inc. (Collier)
Comprehensive insurance
protection and risk management services
Chief executive: Gary V. Trippe
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $179.97 million (premium sales)
2003: $156.29 million (premium sales)
Employees: 129
Founded: 1981
www.OTC1.com
Supports area chambers of commerce, charitable organizations, educational and other projects through volunteerism and corporate financial support. Sponsors the annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Award program recognizing small business entrepreneurs for overcoming adversity.

23. The Bonita Bay Group (Lee)
Developer of master-planned communities
Chief executive: Dennis E. Gilkey
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $176 million
2003: $164 million
Employees: 1,500
Founded: 1981
www.bonitabaygroup.com
Named Development Company of the Year by the Lee Building Industry Association for the fifth consecutive year. Received a Five-Star Restoration Program award from the Environmental Protection Agency, and a Family-Friendly Workplace designation by the Naples Alliance for Children.

24. Radiation Therapy Services Inc. (Lee)
Provides radiation therapy services to cancer patients
Chief executive: Daniel E. Dosoretz, M.D.
Gross annual revenue:
2004: $171.4 million
2003: $138.7 million
Employees: 720-plus
Founded: 1983
www.rtsx.com
Owns, operates and manages treatment centers focused on providing comprehensive radiation treatment alternatives ranging from conventional external beam radiation to newer options. Provides radiation therapy in 46 freestanding and 10 hospital-based treatment centers in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island.