Sales generator

David Branton was working in Chile recently when an earthquake struck that country.
“The building started going like this for 40 seconds,” Branton says, waving his hands. But no matter: “I'm going to Chile again next week,” he says.
Far-flung destinations such as Chile provide big opportunities for growth for Turbine Generator Maintenance, better known by its initials TGM. The company repairs and maintains steam and gas turbines for utilities, mining companies and agribusinesses.

In 2009, Branton engineered a management buyout of the firm. At the time, the Cape Coral-based company was losing money, but Branton and his team turned the operation around by cutting expenses and boosting customer service.

TGM has no customers in the immediate area, but it's headquartered in Cape Coral because the company's founder was an avid boater. “Our closest customer is in Bartow,” Branton says.