Advanced IT Concepts Shines as Winner of 2012 Florida Companies to Watch

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced IT Concepts (AITC) has been recognized as a recipient of the 2012 Florida Companies to Watch award, an honor presented by the Florida Economic Gardening Institute/GrowFL at the University of Central Florida and the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation and funding support provided by SunTrust Banks, Inc.

50 companies from across the state of Florida will receive their awards at the recognition gala on Friday, October 19 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Among the second annual class of 2012 winners from Central Florida is Advanced IT Concepts, a leading provider of Information Technology Solutions and Services to the Federal Government, Civilian Agencies and Commercial customers.  AITC implements leading-edge IT solutions to improve its customers' efficiencies, responsiveness, security, and Return on Investment (ROI).  AITC projects annual revenue growth at 365% and 112% in employee growth for 2012.

"Receiving the Florida Companies to Watch award has been a huge honor for us," said Gabe Ruiz, president of AITC. "We have worked extremely hard to establish ourselves as a trusted advisor to our customers and partners in all areas of Information Technologies.  For us, receiving this prestigious award is a validation of our success for our explosive and sustained growth in a shrinking economy. We look forward to continue adding talent, capabilities, partners, offerings and solutions to our portfolio in order to provide even better products and services to our customers."

The combined economic impact of the class of 2012 is immense. In 2011 alone, the companies generated $355 million in total annual revenue, and held 1,576 full-time equivalent employees. The companies collectively created 350 net new jobs compared to the previous year. Between 2008 and the end of this year, these companies will generate $1.4 billion in revenue and add 1,297 employees (both in Florida and out of state), reflecting a 204 percent increase in revenue and 151 percent increase in jobs for the five-year period.  In 2012 alone, that translates to a 35 percent annual revenue growth and 37 percent annual growth in employees. *Data compiled in August 2012.

Florida Companies to Watch was developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation as an exclusive way to honor second-stage companies who exhibit innovative business strategies and processes. The companies acknowledged by this award pave the way for second-stage companies and prove themselves to be "worth watching." The selected companies will be celebrated at the Florida Companies to Watch gala, which takes place on October 19^th at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.

"Florida Companies to Watch takes a holistic approach, identifying companies across the state that represent Florida's future," says Tom O'Neal, Executive Director of GrowFL and Associate Vice President at the University of Central Florida. "It illustrates the economic potential across the entire state, not just in major metropolitan areas, that the state realizes with the successes of second-stage companies. Being selected for Florida Companies to Watch awards program provides growing businesses the credibility and recognition that distinguish them among their peers. This statewide even lauds the success of business leaders who have taken their operations to the 'second-stage' of growth and that hold the potential to continue to create jobs in their communities and industries, thereby making a difference in our local and statewide community."

About AITC
Founded in 2006, by former Military IT professionals, AITC assists customers through the design and implementation of innovative IT solutions.  AITC is a SDVOSB and SBA 8(a) Certified IT Systems Integrator, Value-Add Reseller and Service Provider to the Federal, State, and Local government. AITC draws on significant telecommunications and Information Technology proven experience to ensure customers' goals are met by providing advisory services, strategic planning, program management, system deployment and technology specialists, as well as engineering, logistics and training support. Visit www.aitcinc.com for more information.

For more information: florida.companiestowatch.org.  Florida Companies to Watch would not be possible without the generous support of the following organizations:

Edward Lowe Foundation
Florida Economic Gardening Institute/GrowFL
SunTrust Banks, Inc.

Contact: Christa Santos
407-882-1576 or c) 407-230-7018
[email protected] 

SOURCE AITC