Global reach

Fort Myers doesn't have a deepwater port like Tampa or a cargo freight airport like Miami's. And flying overseas often means connecting through a larger U.S. hub like Atlanta.

But Allyn International proves that you can successfully manage an international logistics business from just about anywhere. The privately held firm in Fort Myers has 230 employees scattered in offices around the world, from Prague to Shanghai and Moscow, who manage logistics for companies ranging from small to Fortune 500 conglomerates (for privacy reasons, Allyn doesn't disclose the names of its customers). That employee count includes about 80 people at its headquarters in Fort Myers, in an unassuming office complex behind a bagel shop on McGregor Boulevard.

But the operation promises to grow further: Allyn recently acquired the former Northern Trust building on College Parkway in Fort Myers for future expansion. Annualized sales grew from $11.7 million in 2013 to $17.1 million last year, a 46% increase.