Orlando, Florida (February 28, 2023) — GrowFL is pleased to announce Coastal Cloud as the recipient of the 2022 Florida Companies to Watch Distinguished Alumni Award. The award, inspired by Barbara Stankowski, was created to further celebrate past GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honorees for their continued growth, innovation, and philanthropy since being recognized.
After a distinguished 28-year career in the U.S. Navy, Barbara Stankowski ventured into entrepreneurship. In 2007, she founded her own business, AMTIS, Inc., providing services to commercial, federal, and state agencies. AMTIS, Inc. went on to receive many accolades including being selected as a 2012 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree.
Under her leadership, AMTIS grew into a multimillion-dollar company, employing hundreds of people across the United States. Stankowski has since sold AMTIS, Inc. but continues to act as a talented and experienced consultant at Stankowski Advanced Strategies. Stankowski is an avid supporter of GrowFL, entrepreneurs, and women veterans across the nation.
“There was no better person to inspire the GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Distinguished Alumni Award than Barbara Stankowski,” said Jennifer Taylor, President, and CEO of GrowFL. “Barbara’s involvement, leadership, and kindness have had a significant ripple effect on all those that meet her. It is a true honor to be able to show our appreciation by honoring her through this award.”
To be eligible, an applicant must be a past GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree recognized from 2011 to 2016, demonstrate continued growth in revenue and employees, and ownership must have remained unchanged since being awarded.
“There is nothing more exciting than to watch previous GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch winners continue to grow and prosper while giving back to the community and supporting other small businesses in their journey,” said Barbara Stankowski. “I am honored to recognize Coastal Cloud as the first ever GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Distinguished Alumni who exemplify all aspects of this award. They demonstrate success is sweeter when you focus on giving back, lending a helping hand, and paying it forward.”
Founded by Tim and Sara Hale in 2012, Coastal Cloud is an IT Services company that is a top-rated and nationally recognized Salesforce.com Consulting Partner. They provide consulting, implementation, and managed services on the Salesforce platform to businesses, nonprofits, and the public sector.
Coastal Cloud has continued to see significant company growth since being recognized as a GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree in 2015. From 2015 to 2021, Coastal Cloud had a 954% increase in revenue and 533% growth in employees. Now, in 2023, Coastal Cloud has a team of more than 600 employees across the country serving over 1,200 clients.
Based in Flagler County, Coastal Cloud is committed to giving back to the community, most notably through their signature project, the Whitney Lab, where they helped to fund and launch Whitney’s Sea Turtle Hospital. In addition, Sara has led the ‘classroom to careers’ community portal that links Flagler County School students and teachers to opportunities with local businesses for part-time employment and shadowing, mentoring, and internship experiences. Through their robust internship program for local high school students and several leading universities across the country, Coastal Cloud has welcomed 90 student interns in 2022 alone.
“As the first Florida Companies to Watch Alumni Award winner, we are proud to represent the entrepreneurial spirit of our state. We are committed to continuing to build our business and contribute to the economic growth of our local community, the state of Florida and the country. Congrats to our incredible team at Coastal Cloud. This award is a testament to their unwavering commitment, innovative spirit, and relentless pursuit of excellence in helping our clients. Without their passion, creativity, and hard work, we would not be where we are today.”
Tim Hale, Co-Founder
Inspired by 2012 Honoree, Barbara Stankowski, the GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Alumni Award was created to recognize past Honorees for continued growth, community involvement, and impact on the state’s economy.
To be considered for the 2nd Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Alumni Award, one must:
After a distinguished 28-year career in the U.S. Navy, Barbara Stankowski ventured into entrepreneurship. In 2007, she founded her own business, AMTIS, Inc., providing services to commercial, federal, and state agencies. A few years later, AMTIS, Inc. was selected as a 2012 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree. Under her leadership, AMTIS grew into a multimillion-dollar company, employing hundreds of people across the United States. Stankowski has since sold AMTIS, Inc. but continues to act as a talented and experienced consultant at Stankowski Advanced Strategies. Since being awarded in 2012, she has stayed involved with GrowFL as a Corporate Partner, a member of the Executive Committee, and co-chair of the GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Leadership Institute. She continues to dedicate her time to fellow entrepreneurs through the American Academy of Entrepreneurs and creating well-needed programs to support women Veterans around the nation.
GrowFL is driven by one goal – to cultivate second-stage growth companies across the state. Second-stage companies are the backbone of Florida’s economy and the definition of economic success and prosperity.
GrowFL, through our diverse programs and services, provides proven methods to help overcome unique challenges facing second-stage companies as they grow.