Company named to Gator100 list for fourth time

APOPKA, Fla. (March 3, 2020) – Many JK2 Construction employees got their start at the University of Florida. Now, the company has been honored for how far it has come by the university itself.

JK2 Construction was named to the elite Gator100 list for the fourth time because of its incredible growth.

The Gator100 awards, in their sixth year, recognize the 100 fastest-growing businesses in the world that are owned or led by alumni of the University of Florida. The list comprises some of the most innovative and successful businesses in U.S. and beyond.

“I’m incredibly proud to be a UF alumnus,” said Paul Holmes, founder of JK2. “I know what I learned there gave me the foundation to build my business, and UF gave many of my staff members the tools they need to do the work we do every day. To be recognized among other outstanding alumni businesses is truly an honor.”

The honorees are chosen and ranked based on compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over a three-year period. To qualify, companies must have been in business for at least five years and had revenues of $250,000 or more every year since 2016. From January 2016 to October 2019, a UF alumnus or alumna must have owned 50 percent or more of the company, or have served as chief executive, or have founded the company and served on the senior management team. Ernst & Young calculates the CAGR. Hundreds of companies apply for the honor each year.

“The Gator100 honors UF alumni from across the university who are founding and growing amazing companies around the country,” said Matt Hodge, Associate Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations at University of Florida Advancement. “It’s an incredible affirmation of the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the Gator Nation.”

Representatives from JK2 Construction attended the awards ceremony in Gainesville on February 28, 2020. The company was ranked No. 61 with a CAGR of 35 percent, up from a ranking of 85 and CAGR of 29.46 percent last year.  

This growth reflects a record year in 2019 for JK2 Construction. JK2 saw its highest revenue growth since the Great Recession and its second highest revenue mark in its 33-year history. JK2 Construction also completed several banner projects for theme parks and national home builders in the last year and took home three Excellence in Construction awards from ABC Central Florida.

JK2 currently has several UF graduates in leadership roles, including: JK2 Founder Paul Holmes; JK2 Construction leaders Rick Amundson, COO, and Dan Shaffer, Pre-Construction Director; Office Manager Joan Holmes and JK2 Scenic President Julie Holmes.

Paul Holmes earned a Bachelor of Science with honors in business, followed by graduate studies at the School of Building Construction. Rick Amundson received a Bachelor of Building Construction. Dan Shaffer received a Bachelor of Finance. Julie Holmes was a Cum Laude graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and is a three-year letter winner of the University of Florida women’s swimming and diving team.

For more information about JK2 Construction, visit jk2construction.com. For more information about the Gator100, visit gator100.ufl.edu. 

About JK2 Construction

JK2 Construction, a family-owned company founded in 1987, has become a leader in the construction industry. The company specializes in design-build, commercial, retail, entertainment, restaurant, industrial, amenity and time share projects.  JK2 Construction has completed projects throughout the nation, including work for major theme parks, themed restaurants and national home builders. The company is a trusted, respected and valued partner who builds with a creative project approach and has principal level involvement in every project. For more information, visit jk2construction.com.

JK2 Construction Receives 2019 Gator100 honors

Company acknowledged among innovative businesses led by University of Florida alumni

APOPKA, Fla. (Feb. 25, 2019) – The JK2 family of companies is ready for a celebratory Gator Chomp. Both JK2 Construction and JK2 Scenic were named to the elite Gator100 list for the third time based on their impressive growth.

The award recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses worldwide that are owned or led by alumni of the University of Florida. The list, which is presented by the UF Alumni Association, in partnership with the UF Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center, is in its fifth year.

To qualify, companies must have been in business for at least five years and had revenues of $250,000 or more every year since 2015, or for the past three full fiscal years. From January 2015 to September 2018, a UF alumnus or group of alumni must have owned 50 percent or more of the company, or have served as chief executive, or have founded the company and served on the senior management team.

The honorees of the Gator100 list are chosen based on a company’s compounded annual growth rate, or CAGR, over a three-year period. The JK2 family of companies made the list out of hundreds of companies that applied.

“The University of Florida was an integral part in preparing several of our team members, myself included, to do the work we do in the construction industry,” said Paul Holmes, founder of JK2. “To be recognized for that work by our alma mater is an incredible honor.”

This is JK2’s third time making the prestigious list. Since JK2 Scenic was spun off into a separate company last year, this is the first year both companies made the list on their own. JK2 Construction was ranked No. 85 with a CAGR of 29.46 percent, while JK2 Scenic was ranked No. 70 with a CAGR of 34.34 percent.

As a combined company, JK2 was ranked No. 45 in 2017 and No. 72 in 2016.

Both companies have experienced an extraordinary amount of growth over the last few years. JK2 Construction has completed several notable projects at Universal Orlando Resort, the Orlando Science Center and several amenity centers for national home builders. JK2 Scenic has seen a growth in revenue by over 1,000 percent, and completed work at Universal Orlando Resort, Disney Springs and the Margaritaville Resort Orlando.

The JK2 family of companies has five UF graduates currently in leadership roles: JK2 Founder Paul Holmes; JK2 Construction leaders Rick Amundson, Vice President, David Ressler, Director of Operations, and Dan Shaffer, Pre-Construction Manager; and JK2 Scenic President Julie Holmes.

Paul Holmes earned a Bachelor of Science with honors in business, followed by graduate studies at the School of Building Construction. Rick Amundson received a Bachelor of Building Construction. David Ressler received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture. Dan Shaffer received a Bachelor of Finance. Julie Holmes was a Cum Laude graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and is a three-year letter winner of the University of Florida women’s swimming and diving team.

For more information about JK2 Construction, visit jk2construction.com. For more information about JK2 Scenic, visit jk2scenic.com.

For more information about the Gator100, visit gator100.ufl.edu.

About JK2 Construction

JK2 Construction, a family-owned company founded in 1987, has become a leader in the construction industry. The company specializes in design-build, commercial, retail, entertainment, restaurant, industrial, amenity and time share projects.  JK2 Construction has completed projects throughout the nation, including work for major theme parks, themed restaurants and national home builders. The company is a trusted, respected and valued partner who builds with a creative project approach and has principal level involvement in every project. For more information, visit jk2construction.com.