Gates refocuses on Florida

You're going to see a lot more of Todd Gates.

The entrepreneur who built one of the region's largest construction and development firms during the boom years scored a plum assignment recently to build a $242 million children's hospital in Fort Myers in a joint venture with Swedish giant Skanska.

But during the downturn, Gates focused much of his efforts overseas. In particular, Gates developed a demonstration facility for Caterpillar in Panama, which widened its vaunted canal. “Central America never slowed down,” he says.