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Talk of the bay

Tampa Bay trio make Forbes' list of top small companies

By KRIS HUNDLEY
Published October 24, 2005

Three Tampa Bay area companies made it onto Forbes magazine's annual list of the 200 best small companies in the nation: Tampa general insurer Brown & Brown, Clearwater's Aerosonic and ocean shipper Maritrans of Tampa.

Selected based on their five-year growth stats, the local winners may not be as hip as the list's No. 1 winner: Hansen Natural, the maker of Monster Energy drink. Even Forbes' editors warn that the collection is not a compilation of "flashes in the pan."

"It does, however, feature solid and consistent hitters that have performed well when measured over the last 12 months and the past five years, and are poised for another growth spurt," the magazine said.

It is the second consecutive year on the list for Brown & Brown, though the company slipped to No. 48 from No. 13 last year.

Making the grade for the first time are Aerosonic and Maritrans, with Maritrans, at No. 156, even being named to a short list of editors' favorites.

Aerosonic, No. 142, is particularly thrilled with the recognition from Forbes. Three years ago, the aircraft instrumentation maker's stock price and reputation took a dive after the company restated revenues and two of its top executives were investigated for fraud by the SEC.

Now that Forbes has taken note of its turnaround, Aerosonic execs have to be wondering: When will investors catch on?

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 21:18:02]