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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2014

CONTACT: Melanie Mowry Etters
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Governor Rick Scott Awards Three North Florida Businesses with Governor’s Business Ambassador Award

TALLAHASSEE —During today’s meeting of the Florida Cabinet, Governor Rick Scott recognized Gulf Coast Enterprises, Pragmatic Works, and B&C Technologies with the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award for their commitment in creating jobs for families in North Florida. The Governor’s Business Ambassador Award is given to individuals for their efforts in creating jobs and opportunities in Florida.

Governor Scott said, “It was an honor to recognize these three North Florida businesses with the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award for their work in creating opportunities and jobs for Florida families. Each of these businesses were started in North Florida and have grown into key employers in their communities. With Florida’s unemployment down to 6.1 percent and more than 500,000 private-sector jobs created since December 2010, businesses like Gulf Coast Enterprises, Pragmatic Works, and B&C Technologies help Florida continue to create an opportunity economy.”
                                 
The following businesses received the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award:

Gulf Coast Enterprises, Pensacola – Gulf Coast Enterprises began as a small community rehabilitation provider in Pensacola in 1986, creating employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Since that time, Gulf Coast Enterprises has continued to grow jobs employing 860 Floridians, 634 of which are persons with a disability with most of these jobs at military installations and other federal facilities.

President of Gulf Coast Enterprises Rich Gilmartin said, “Gulf Coast Enterprises (GCE), a division of Lakeview Center, is thrilled to be recognized by Governor Scott as a recipient of the Governor's Business Ambassador Award for its efforts to provide meaningful jobs for people who have disabilities. This award affirms the efforts of so many people, including our volunteer community Board of Directors, as we seek to provide people with disabilities a chance to put their abilities to work.”

Pragmatic Works, Middleburg – Pragmatic Works is located in Middleburg and has recently grown to 79 employees. The company’s mission is to help Microsoft SQL Server developers and DBA’s operate more effectively. Pragmatic Works serves more than 7,500 customers globally, providing innovative products, software, trainers and consultants to assist companies with complex data management.

Pragmatic Works Founder Brian Knight said, “Pragmatic Works is honored to receive the Business Ambassador Award from Governor Scott today. We feel our expansion is in large part due to Florida’s wide technical talent pool and the business-friendly climate and culture. We look forward to future growth and expansion in this upcoming year.”

B&C Technologies, Panama City Beach – B&C Technologies opened its doors in Panama City Beach in 1995 and has gradually grown its business from two employees to 21 employees. B&C started in a garage as a parts supplier for commercial and industrial laundry equipment. Since that time, they’ve moved from the garage to a 60,000 square foot facility in Panama City Beach. The company has plans to relocate to a 70,000 square foot facility within the next six months. B&C was established with the idea of designing reliable, dependable, and affordable laundry equipment. With a complete range of washing and drying equipment, B&C has expanded their sales line and currently offers over 100 different washing machine products.

B&C Technologies President Bengt Bruce said, “It is an honor to receive the Business Ambassadors Award from Governor Scott. This will encourage our company to do better and provide more jobs for Florida, especially since we are expanding our business in Panama City with a production of high technology small piece towel folders for the laundry industry.”