The Everest Blog

ORLANDO, August 16, 2022 – Everest Ice and Water Systems has been named a finalist in the first round of the 12th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards. This award honors the impressive second-stage companies that develop valuable products and services, create quality jobs, and enrich communities throughout the state.

“We at Everest are so excited to have the opportunity to be recognized locally once again,” says Gilbert Ramirez Jr., Marketing Manager at Everest. “We are honored to join the other finalists, and we are very much looking forward to the official honoree announcement in October.”

Together, the finalists represent nearly 2,000 jobs and generate more than $430 million in revenue. These second-stage companies collectively anticipate a growth of 40 percent in revenue and 18 percent in employment by the end of the year.

To qualify for the award, companies must have between 6 and 150 employees and revenue between $750,000 and $100 million in 2021. Additionally, judges evaluate applicants based on their special strengths and impact in their markets, communities, and within the state. The finalists were selected from more than 400 nominations across Florida. 

Companies to Watch was developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation as a unique way to recognize and honor second-stage companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace with innovative strategies and processes. In addition to evaluating past growth and projected success, applicant companies are judged according to their special strengths and impact in their markets, communities and within the state – thus deeming them “worth watching.” 

The Honorees for this year’s award will be announced in October. The 12th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards celebration will take place on February 23, 2023, at Hard Rock Live, Universal City Walk, Orlando, FL. You can see the full list of GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch.

About Everest Ice and Water Systems 

Manufacturing equipment with a focus on innovating the industry since 2008, Everest Ice and Water Systems has engineered the most revolutionary ice and water vending machine on the market. Their patented VersaVend one-moving-part dispensing system leads to less maintenance, higher efficiency, and more than 7 million jam-free vends around the world – and counting. At Everest, their motto is “Always Climbing” because they work hard to enrich people’s lives and ensure their machine owners can earn a truly passive income. For more information, visit www.everesticeandwater.com. 

About GrowFL:   

GrowFL is dedicated to support and accelerate the growth of second-stage companies throughout Florida, by providing their leaders focused, efficient, and timely access to resources they deem important, such as connections with other second-stage company leaders, and to professional organizations whose expertise, experience, and products lead to the second-stage company’s continued growth and prosperity resulting in diversification and growth of Florida’s economy.  Second-stage growth companies have at least 6 employees and $750,000 in revenue and possess an intent and desire to grow beyond second-stage. For more information, visit the GrowFL website.

About the Edward Lowe Foundation:   

The Edward Lowe Foundation was established in 1985 by Ed and Darlene Lowe to leverage entrepreneurship as a strategy for economic growth and community development. The foundation’s entrepreneurship initiatives focus on second-stage companies, which are growth-oriented firms that have moved beyond startup but have not yet reached maturity. Its peer learning, leadership education, and strategic information programs are geared to help these companies continue growing. For more information, visit the Edward Lowe Foundation website.