Magic Carpet

When Philip Gutierrez escaped Cuba at age 17 in 1960, his first job was as a bellman at the White House Hotel in Miami Beach.

But you know how this story goes: From humble beginnings, Gutierrez today owns and oversees one of the largest companies on the Gulf Coast, Abbey Carpet Co.

Abbey's annual $1.8 billion in revenues last year eclipsed better-known Gulf Coast-based companies, including Rooms to Go ($1.5 billion), Beall's ($1.2 billion) and Arthrex ($1.1 billion). Abbey is the 14th largest company headquartered on the Gulf Coast, according to a revenue-based ranking of the top 500 companies from Tampa to Naples by the Business Review.