WCI: bankrupt to Builder 100

Even in Florida's boom and bust economy, WCI Communities stands out.

The Bonita Springs-based homebuilding and development company filed for bankruptcy reorganization in 2008, wiping out shareholders and emerging with $450 million in debt in 2009.

But, despite the real estate collapse, WCI's creditors believed then the company was more valuable whole than carved up and sold off. Given Florida's economic history, they made a good bet that real estate would recover.