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List Celebrates the Fastest Growing Small Businesses in the Federal Sector

Knight Federal was named by Washington Technology as a Fast 50 honoree for 2021.  The publication lists 50 of the nation’s fastest growing small businesses, which is a celebration of their depth, diversity, and hard work in the federal sector.

Knight Federal has shown sustained growth and ranks at number 20 based on its five-year compound growth rate of 24.8 percent which is reflective of its substantial revenue increase over the last three years.  Headquartered in Orlando, Florida Knight Federal is the only company listed from the state of Florida, representing the Southeast.

“This recognition is made possible through the collective collaboration, dedication and quality performance of our Knight Federal team.  They are dedicated to the mission of our defense customers and focus on delivering impactful results representing our core values, which is proven by our past performance and continued growth,” says Chris Baeten, Knight Federal CEO. 

To be eligible for the list, a company must be considered a fast-growing small business in the government market with at least $50,000 in government revenue in 2016.  It ranks small businesses according to their compound annual growth rate over the last five years.  Government revenue includes prime contract subcontract work in the federal, state, and local markets. This year’s Fast 50 companies comprise a depth of capabilities, but also note that innovation and cutting-edge skills aren’t solely found at the largest companies in the market.

Washington Technology, a web-based specialty publication, is considered the foremost authoritative source of competitive intelligence for executives of small businesses in the federal contracting or GovCon market.

For more information, view the entire list here.

Recording annual revenue growth is a major milestone for most companies during this time of turbulence caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.  And having consecutive sales growth for multiple years is an even bigger accomplishment.

That’s why the Orlando Business Journal’s 2021 Elite 50 deserve kudos for their business success not only through 2020, but also in the previous two years.  The Elite 50 honors the cream of the crop among local, privately held companies who have achieved great success in the past year in the 2021 Elite 50.

Knight Federal has been selected as one of the 50 honorees for 2021, representing one of the five companies selected that are leaders among both OBJ’s Golden 100 List (top companies based on most recent year revenue) and the Fast 50 Lists (leading companies based on three consecutive years of positive revenue growth).

Below is an excerpt from the OBJ interview with Knight Federal’s CEO Chris Baeten:

How did the pandemic initially affect how you do business?

We had to adjust to our workforce by working remotely.  Communication with our employees was no longer face-to-face, so we had to find creative ways to stay in touch to ensure productivity was high and deliverables were being met.

How did you adjust/pivot/reimagine the business to keep operating during the pandemic?

On-line meetings became a necessity.

What were some things you had to stop doing or do less of during the pandemic?

Our company and office are built around open communication.  Without everyone in the office our communication with each other was not as frequent.

How did that affect your business?

Initially, it negatively affected our productivity on a week-to-week basis, however once we adjusted to the new working conditions, we found new ways to have open forums of communication where everyone could stay in touch with each other throughout the day.

What were some things you instituted to keep employee morale up?

Virtual happy hour!

What does the future look like now for your company?

Our company has continued to grow.  We are reinvesting in the infrastructure of our company and increasing the support we have at our headquarters. 

What do you believe makes your company an elite business?

Knight Federal was built with an entrepreneurial mindset that has been passed on through our employees.  We are constantly looking at ways to improve the skills, performance, and quality of life of our employees.

Your advice to other local businesses on surviving this challenging economic environment: 

Constantly look for ways to adapt to the ever-changing work environment.  Don’t get stuck in your own ways and be ready to pivot when your original ideas aren’t working.

What’s the most exciting thing that happened to your company last year?  We opened our new office across the street from UCF in the Quadrangle Office Park.  It’s exciting to be close to the university so we can provide opportunities for growth for interns to be part of our company – Go Knights, Charge On!

To view the list of honorees – visit https://lnkd.in/g_2n4Cpt