Generations work hard to create work and family boundaries

Company: Sun Protection of Florida manufacturers and installs retractable screens and awnings, under separate retail and manufacturing businesses. Sun Protection of Florida is the retail operation, while SunPro Motorized Awnings and Screens is the manufacturing entity. Owners Bob and Val Falahee purchased a preexisting screen manufacturing company in 2008, inspired by a family member who had success in the retractable awning business up north. They bought $30,000 in raw materials from Orlando to get started.

It took three years to start a fully functioning manufacturing facility, but the persistence and investment has paid off, especially in the past three years: Revenue has grown 113.8% since 2018, from $2.9 million to $6.2 million in 2020.