07/24/2026
Yesterday I walked into Armature Works for the Tampa Bay Business Journal Fast 50 and realized something wild. Two of my companies were in the building, and only one of them had a booth.
Elite Podcast Studio was there as a sponsor, meeting the leaders of the 50 fastest growing privately held companies in Tampa Bay. But look closely at the award signs sitting on every honoree table. Those were designed and 3D printed by my team at Ultimate 3D Printing Store. So while I was shaking hands at our booth, my other company was already sitting at all 50 tables.
That is the lesson I keep coming back to. You do not always have to be in the room to be in the room. Great work travels on its own.
Huge congratulations to every 2026 Fast 50 honoree, especially FTB Services, the Dave's Hot Chicken franchise group led by Ian and Adam Lieberman, who took the number one spot with 466.42 percent growth. And a special shoutout to the repeat honorees like Burgess Civil, Park & Eleazer Construction, and NCN Electric who have made this list eight times. Growth once is momentum. Growth eight years running is a system.
Here is what struck me most standing in that ballroom. Every single one of these 50 companies has a story that got them there. A founder who bet on themselves, a team that outworked the market, a pivot that paid off. The companies that will dominate the next five years are the ones who tell those stories out loud. Your customers, your recruits, and your future partners are all listening.
If you were one of the honorees and dropped your card at our table, keep an eye out. We are drawing the winner of a free Fast 50 Spotlight Session at Elite Podcast Studio this week.
Congrats again to the Tampa Bay Business Journal on a first class event. This region is not slowing down.
