Economic forecast: Storm protection products firm readies itself for big year

Company: Brian Rist founded Storm Smart in 1996. He’s since helped grow the company, which manufactures and installs hurricane protection products, into one of the largest businesses in its field in Florida. With some 200 employees, it had record sales in 2018 and 2019 — $50 million and $49 million, respectively. That’s up from hovering between $22 million and $38 million in the previous five years. Part of the increase stems from a new line of Storm Catcher wind abatement screens, in addition to other innovations.