Cotleur & Hearing Earns Coveted Gator100 Award

Cotleur & Hearing was named #72 on the University of Florida’s 2023 Gator100 during a ceremony held on April 21 at the Exactech Arena in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on UF’s campus.

Each year, the Gator100 recognizes the world’s fastest-growing Gator businesses owned or led by UF alumni. Ernst & Young, independent accounting firm of the Gator100 since the program began in 2015, verifies financial information submitted by each company and calculates the rankings based on compound annual growth rate over the past three years.

The 2023 Gator100 celebrated companies from over 18 industries, with the top three representing construction and design, health, and real estate. Of the 100 businesses, 77 were Florida companies with other top state headquarters including Georgia, South Carolina, and California.

Our partners Don Hearing, Nicole Plunkett, Daniel Sorrow, and Aaron Wilbur, along with Senior Graphic Designer Sarah Dark, were in attendance, and we were thrilled to be part of such an exciting and inspiring event.

“These UF alumni-owned or -led companies create jobs, add value to our communities, and make an impact around the world,” said Brian K. Danforth, Assistant Vice President of Development and Executive Director of the UF Alumni Association. “These 2023 honorees represent the very best of our Gator entrepreneurs and business leaders. They shine a bright light on the University of Florida and the graduates it produces – people with vision, drive and determination.”

The ceremony was a celebration of the incredible achievements of UF entrepreneurs and business owners, and it was an honor to be recognized among such a talented and diverse group of individuals. We were particularly excited to see local celebrity Albert the Alligator make an appearance, adding a fun and memorable element to the proceedings.

In addition to our partners and team members in attendance, we are proud to recognize other UF grads from Cotleur & Hearing who were also part of helping CH make this year's Gator100 list, including Christian Brewer, Mariana Arias Sans, Jenna Knobbe, and Matthew Wagshol. It is a testament to the strength of the UF alumni community and the quality of education and training we received at UF that so many successful businesses are led by UF alumni.

We are grateful for this recognition and excited to continue to grow and innovate as a firm. At Cotleur & Hearing, we are committed to creating beautiful, sustainable, and functional outdoor spaces that enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve. Our success is a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and talent of our entire team, and we look forward to the many opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Thank you to the University of Florida Alumni Association for this incredible honor, and Go Gators!

All of the CH attendees at the Gator100 Awards Ceremony are graduates of the Landscape Architecture program at the University of Florida. Prior to the ceremony, the College of Design, Construction, and Planning hosted a happy hour celebration for all its graduates. Our team had a wonderful time catching up with past classmates, professors, and DCP Dean Chimay Anumba. The event was a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and network with fellow UF alumni.

It was also exciting to see the strong showing from DCP at the event, despite being the second-smallest college on campus. With a total of 22 honorees, DCP placed second behind the Warrington College of Business, which had 27 honorees. This is a testament to the quality of education and training provided by DCP and the incredible success of its graduates in the business world.