Haskell's leader credits success of company to having top personnel.

Haskell Co., a Jacksonville-based design-build and construction firm, has been named Company of the Year in the First Coast 50 awards.

The First Coast 50, sponsored by consulting firm KPMG and the Times-Union, recognizes the area's top private companies based on revenue.

Finalists for the Company of the Year award were chosen based on peer evaluations from the previous year's top 50 companies' executives. The other two finalists were W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor Inc., a mechanical contracting firm, and Elkins Constructors Inc. An out-of-state, three-judge panel picks the winner based on revenue growth, industry involvement and contributions to the region.

Based on revenue alone, the No. 1 company this year is Gate Petroleum with more than $1 billion in revenue.

Haskell bills itself as a one-stop shop for its clients. The company has 1,100 employees including engineers, architects and construction experts. In 2006, Haskell increased its revenue to $616 million, and sales increased 48 percent to $765 million.

The firms's growth is thanks to its successful cultivation of young talent, according to Steve Halverson, president and chief executive officer.

"We're focused on finding the best and the brightest, as young as college graduates," he said, noting that Haskell fast-tracks its successful employees. "This is a place where young people - in their 30s and early 40s - have jobs of great importance here. It's a youthful company."

To groom future talent, Haskell puts a lot of emphasis on its intern program, which enrolled 31 last year in its design, engineering, construction and human resources departments.

Recent projects for the company include the $400 million Carnival Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, a student housing complex at the University of North Florida and a Gatorade bottling plant in Virginia. Overseas, Haskell's clients include a textile plant in Nicaragua and an aviation project in Malaysia.

In the future, the company will push for more global contracts - even if globalization is a controversial topic.

"I am unapologetic about the globalization of the economy," Halverson said. "Because of our global contracts, we have more jobs here in Jacksonville. It makes us stronger and more competitive."

Recently, Haskell was presented with an award from the Cornerstone division of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce for its increasing use of "green" building principles and its corporate philanthropy policy. Last year, Haskell employees recorded 14,000 volunteer hours mentoring local high school students to increase their awareness of career opportunities in architecture, construction and engineering.

diana.middleton@jacksonville.com,

(904) 359-4404

THE TOP 50

Rank, company name and revenue range

1. Gate Petroleum Co., more than $1 billion

2. Scott McRae Group, $500 million to $999 million

3. Haskell Co., $500 million to $999 million

4. The Stellar Group, $500 million to $999 million

5. Mac Papers Inc., $500 million to $999 million

6. Nextran Corp., $500 million to $999 million

7. First Coast Energy L.L.P., $300 million to $499 million

8. Beaver Street Fisheries Inc., $300 million to $499 million

9. The Suddath Cos., $200 million to $299 million

10. Summit Contractors Group, $200 million to $299 million

11. Miller Electric, $200 million to $299 million

12. Elkins Constructors Inc., $200 million to $299 million

13. W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, $100 million to $199 million

14. Amelia Island Co., $100 million to $199 million

15. Ring Power Corp., $100 million to $199 million

16. Firehouse Subs, $100 million to $199 million

17. Watson Realty Corp., $100 million to $199 million

18. Seda Construction Co., $100 million to $199 million

19. Reynolds, Smith & Hills, $100 million to $199 million

20. Island Food Stores, Ltd., $100 million to $199 million

21. Skinner Nurseries, $100 million to $199 million

22. St. John & Partners Advertising & Public Relations, $100 million to $199 million

23. ILD Telecommunications, $100 million to $199 million

24. Tom Nehl Truck Co., $100 million to $199 million

25. Providence Homes Inc., $100 million to $199 million

26. Hickory Foods Inc., $100 million to $199 million

27. Champion Brands Inc., $50 million to $99 million

28. Dana B. Kenyon, $50 million to $99 million

29. Cain & Bultman Inc., $50 million to $99 million

30. A.J. Johns, $50 million to $99 million

31. Raven Transport Co. Inc., $50 million to $99 million

32. Mackoul Distributors Inc., $50 million to $99 million

33. Load King Manufacturing Co., Inc., $50 million to $99 million

34. Advantus Corp., $50 million to $99 million

35. Barco-Duval Inc., $50 million to $99 million

36. The Vestcor Cos., $50 million to $99 million

37. Marco Ophthalmic, $25 million to $49 million

38. Milton J. Wood Co., $25 million to $49 million

39. Professional Placement Resources LLC, $25 million to $49 million

40. Logistic Services International Inc., $25 million to $49 million

41. England, Thims & Miller, $25 million to $49 million

42. Vurv Technology, $25 million to $49 million

43. Caribbean Shipping Services Inc., $25 million to $49 million

44. Sea Breeze Food Services, $25 million to $49 million

45. Heritage Paper Co. Inc., $25 million to $49 million

46. W W Gay Fire & Integrated Systems Inc., Up to $24 million

47. ATS Services, Up to $24 million

48. Copytronics Inc., Up to $24 million

49. DCC Lee Enterprises, Inc., Up to $24 million

50. Mercury Luggage Manufacturing Co., Up to $24 million

*The data on the list above were obtained through individual company submissions, financial reports and other published third-party resources.