11th annual awards program recognizes second-stage business standouts headquartered in Florida

Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero; EAFocus Communications; 248.260.8466; barbara@eafocus.com

Fort Myers, Fla.–October 5, 2021–Paragon Flight Training, an award-winning flight training academy based at Page Field in Fort Myers, is pleased to announce its induction into this year’s class of GrowFL 50 Companies to Watch.  Honorees in this prestigious group are second-stage growth companies that have between six and 150 employees, $750,000–$100 million in revenue in 2020, and demonstrate a strong commitment to grow beyond second-stage.

In August, GrowFL announced 82 Companies to Watch finalists from more than 600 nominations. The group was narrowed to 50 in a final round of judging by a panel comprised of past honorees, economic development leaders and corporate partners of GrowFL. Companies were judged on a number of criteria including growth in number of employees; impact of the business in the job market; increase in sales and/or unit volume; current and past financial reports; innovativeness of the product or service; response to adversity; and contributions to aid community-oriented projects.

“We are honored to be inducted as one of GrowFL’s Companies to Watch,” Christopher Schoensee, owner and president of Paragon Flight Training, said. “Since our founding in 2006, Paragon Flight Training has had a growth mindset—capitalizing on opportunities that help us apply the same best practices of our larger counterparts in order to lead the way in commercial, military and recreational pilot training. As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, Florida provides the perfect setting for us to thrive – with a major expansion currently underway that will fill a critical need to train more pilots, and in turn, support our community.”

This year’s Companies to Watch honorees projected continued growth in 2021, with a 62% revenue increase and 49% growth in employees compared to 2020. If their projections hold, these companies will have generated $1.7 billion in revenue and added more than 1,500 employees over the last five years — a 263% increase in revenue and a 206% increase in jobs since 2017.

Paragon Flight Training is definitely in growth mode, with a groundbreaking slated for October for an expanded 14,000 square-foot hangar on Page Field in Lee County as well as plans to purchase an additional 45–50 planes, tripling its current fleet.

Companies named to the list will be officially recognized at the 11th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Celebration on February 17, 2022, at the Hard Rock Live in Universal CityWalk, Orlando, Fla. Tickets are on sale now.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://growfl.com/flctw21/about-flctw/.

About GrowFL Companies to Watch
GrowFL Companies to Watch recognizes growing second-stage companies headquartered in Florida. Developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, Companies to Watch is a unique way to honor the companies who demonstrate high performance in the marketplace with innovative strategies and processes, making them “worth watching.” For more information, visit GrowFL.

About Paragon Flight Training
Paragon Flight is an award-winning flight academy headquartered at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida. With FAA and SEVIS accreditations, a fleet of nearly 20 planes, and advanced simulator technology onsite, the company trains commercial, professional, and recreational pilots as well as offering military pilot training for domestic and foreign governments. The company is in the process of a 22,000-combined-square-foot expansion slated for completion in fourth quarter 2021. Learn more at ParagonFlight.com.

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