Written by Connie Etemadi
Otter PR, one of Central Florida’s highest-rated and awarded PR firms, is once again on the Gator100 Recognition for 2025. This is the company’s second consecutive year being honored among the fastest-growing Gator-led businesses.
For Otter PR co-founders Scott Bartnick and Jay Feldman, both UF graduates, the recognition is more than a headline; it’s validation and the result of hard work. More importantly, it’s a reflection of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives one of Florida’s most visible public relations agencies.
The Gator100 program, launched by the University of Florida Alumni Association, highlights the achievements of Gator alumni who have built or led companies experiencing sustained, verifiable growth. Each year’s honorees represent a cross-section of industries, from technology and construction to healthcare, retail, and communications, showing the reach and diversity of Gator-owned enterprises.
To earn a spot, companies must be owned or led by a UF alumnus in an executive role, maintain healthy financial growth over several years, and demonstrate the values of innovation and leadership that define the Gator Nation.
The power of Gator100 recognition
Earning Gator100 recognition is no small feat. For UF alumni, it’s one of the clearest ways to measure the impact of their ideas in the real world. For Otter PR, securing spots in both 2024 and 2025 indicates that its trajectory is no fluke. The company’s continued recognition reflects steady growth, visionary leadership, and a commitment to accountability — the same values the Gator100 program was built to honor.The Gator100 isn’t just a list of fast-growing companies; it’s a community. Through the UF Alumni Association, honorees gain access to a growing network of business owners and entrepreneurs who share common roots and complementary expertise. It’s a recognition that carries both credibility and connections.
Inside Otter PR's growth story
Founded in late 2019, just months before the onset of a global pandemic, Otter PR began with a simple idea: to make public relations measurable and transparent. What started as a small public relations agency quickly scaled into a national operation serving clients across industries, from tech startups and healthcare innovators to lifestyle brands and nonprofit organizations. Its co-founders brought together technical insight and creative storytelling to help companies strengthen their visibility and reputation.Otter PR first appeared on the Gator100 list in 2024. The following year, it earned the same recognition — proof that its growth model was built for endurance, not just speed. That back-to-back recognition reinforces the team’s focus on long-term value and their original idea: making public relations measurable and transparent.
Inspired by Otter PR’s growth story? Book a free consultation to learn how our award-winning approach can elevate your business visibility and credibility.
Why consecutive recognition matters
● While being recognized once is an achievement, earning it two years in a row is evidence of structure and discipline.● For Otter PR, being named again reflects an internal culture that values innovation but stays grounded in process and consistency.
● The Gator100 program measures real performance through metrics such as revenue, leadership, and scalability.
● For Otter PR’s clients, the repeat Gator100 honor serves as a mark of reliability, demonstrating that the agency’s approach to client success, media outreach, and reputation management continues to deliver.
● For Otter PR’s team, it’s both validation and motivation — a reminder that progress isn’t just about fast wins but about sustainable growth.
● Beyond individual companies, consecutive recognition strengthens the entire UF alumni and business network. Each year’s list becomes a snapshot of how UF graduates are shaping industries far beyond Gainesville.
● Otter PR’s presence two years in a row highlights how communications professionals contribute to that growth alongside engineers, lawyers, and developers.
A culture that reflects Gator values
At its core, the Gator100 program celebrates leadership rooted in ethics, community, and, most importantly, perseverance. Otter PR’s approach to business reflects those same values with an emphasis on collaboration, mentorship, and professional development.By appearing on the Gator100 list in back-to-back years, Otter PR joins a growing group of repeat honorees that exemplify long-term excellence within the Gator community. These firms collectively embody what the University of Florida hopes its alumni will achieve: build responsibly, lead confidently, and keep giving back.
The broader impact
Each year’s Gator100 announcement doubles as a reunion for the UF Alumni Association, connecting new entrepreneurs with established business owners and fostering mentorship across industries. For Otter PR, participation in this network extends its mission beyond public relations, reinforcing its commitment to helping others communicate with clarity, authenticity, and impact.Recognition of this kind also reinforces Gainesville’s reputation as a hub for emerging enterprises. The Gator100 honors demonstrate that the university’s influence reaches far beyond its campus, nurturing leaders who carry its entrepreneurial spirit into every sector.
Looking ahead
Recognition, however meaningful, isn’t an endpoint. For Otter PR, earning the Gator100 award serves as motivation to keep expanding not only geographically but also strategically and creatively.Otter PR continues to refine its media relations model, invest in talent development, and explore new technologies for client storytelling. That ongoing evolution embodies what the Gator100 program celebrates: the ability to grow with intention while staying true to core values.
As the firm celebrates back-to-back Gator100 recognition, its focus remains forward-looking: to keep building, keep learning, and keep representing the Gator Nation on the national stage.
Want to learn more about Otter PR’s growth story? Visit their website today!
