Solstice Benefits Honored as a Class of 2013 Florida Companies to Watch Award Recipient

PLANTATION, Fla., Oct. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Solstice Benefits has been recognized as a recipient of the 2013 Florida Companies to Watch award, an honor presented by GrowFL at the University of Central Florida. In its 3rd year, Florida Companies to Watch is presented by GrowFL at the University of Central Florida in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. Fifty companies from across the state of Florida will receive their recognition and be treated like rock stars at an awards event on Thursday, October 24 at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida.

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Florida Companies to Watch is an awards program that celebrates privately held second-stage companies headquartered in the state. To be eligible, applicants must employ between 6 and 99 full-time equivalent employees and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue or working capital in place. Awardees are selected for demonstrating the intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, sustainable competitive advantage, outstanding corporate culture, inspired community giving and other notable strengths.

"Solstice has changed dental and vision care, taking the best features of the most popular plan styles and combining them into a unique plan model that's preferred by our members and providers," said Solstice COO Carlos Ferrera. "Our open access network is distinctive to the industry and offers a sustainable competitive advantage. We also offer Florida's largest dental provider network ensuring that our clients have the greatest access to care. And, we are taking this model and entering new markets. To be included on GrowFL's Florida Companies to Watch List is truly an honor—as well as a testament to the company's proven growth due to innovation and creative thinking when it comes to the benefits we offer."

Florida Companies to Watch is unique because of its focus on second-stage companies and the wide-ranging industries they represent. The impact of these companies on Florida's economy is immense, and this year's honorees are examples of such companies in the state. During 2007-2009, Florida's resident companies averaged more than 110,000 second-stage establishments according to YourEconomy.org, an online resource of the Edward Lowe Foundation. Those second-stage companies employed nearly 2.5 million workers.

About GrowFL:
GrowFL provides strategies, resources and support to second-stage companies for next level growth. By supporting companies with Strategic Research and peer-to-peer CEO mentoring, GrowFL helps companies overcome obstacles to growth and leads them towards prosperity. Based on the philosophy of Economic Gardening – to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state – GrowFL is the program of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida and is a critical component to the state's economic development strategy and Florida's entrepreneurial ecosystem. During the pilot program from 2009-2011, GrowFL helped more than 400 companies create 1,400 new jobs and had an annual economic impact of $510.4 million. At the beginning of 2013, that number has grown to nearly 700 companies supported by GrowFL. For more information: GrowFL.com.

About the Edward Lowe Foundation:
The Edward Lowe Foundation inspired the creation of the Companies to Watch program to celebrate second-stage entrepreneurs and their companies. Established in 1985, the Edward Lowe Foundation is a Michigan-based nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurship through recognition, education and research with a focus on second-stage companies—those that have moved beyond the startup phase and seek significant, steady growth. The foundation also encourages economic gardening, an entrepreneur-centered strategy providing balance to the traditional approach of business recruitment. For information, visit www.EdwardLowe.org.

About Solstice:
Solstice is a privately held Florida corporation based in Plantation, Fla. Solstice administers and markets dental, vision, pharmaceutical, life and short- and long-term disability benefits plans. Solstice and its subsidiaries also offer Third Party Administration (TPA) services in the Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia markets-and are in the process of expanding nationwide. It was named one of "Florida's Best Companies to Work For" for the third consecutive year by Florida Trend and ranked No. 15 in the Insurance Industry on Inc. magazine's 2012 "America's Fastest Growing Companies" list. Recently, the company was awarded accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), indicating dedication to quality and excellence in business practices. For information on Solstice, contact 1.877.760.2247 or visit www.SolsticeBenefits.com.

CONTACT:
Alissa Gavrilescu
954-370-4338
[email protected]

SOURCE Solstice Benefits, Inc.