8-koi Supports Opening of NASA Lunabotics Competition Arena at Kennedy Space Center

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The NASA Lunabotics Competition Arena is open for the first time to students after a two-year delay caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Designed and constructed in 2019 by 8-koi, the Lunabotics Artemis Arena at Kennedy Space Center in Florida serves as the venue for the fourth and final competition event of the year-long challenge. Lunabotics challenges college and university teams of students from across the United Sates in a full-on engineering exercise where participants receive practical experience in the full engineering lifecycle process from concept development to system closeout.

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8-koi Named to University of Florida 2022 Gator100

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8-koi was named to the University of Florida’s 2022 Gator100 during a ceremony on April 22 in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on UF’s campus.

Each year, the Gator100 recognizes the world’s fastest-growing Gator businesses owned or led by UF alumni. Ernst & Young, independent accounting firm of the Gator100 since the program began in 2015, verifies financial information submitted by each company and calculates the rankings based on compound annual growth rate over the past three years. The 2022 honorees have a cumulative revenue of $3.9B.

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April is Internship Awareness Month

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8-koi and CDE are celebrating Internship Awareness Month by recognizing our hard-working student employees, some of whom have gone on to be full-time permanent members of our team. According to the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), the retention rate of hired interns is higher than other entry-level employees. 

“These young people are a highly valuable asset to our success and longevity,” says company President Inga Young. “It’s important to help shape the next generation of professionals by allowing them to contribute in meaningful ways while imparting our core values of passion, excellence, dependability, and thoughtfulness.” 

“Internships are not meant to be free help. They are not meant to replace an employee. And they shouldn’t be used for busy work.” 

Roy Mauer, SHRM

At 8-koi and CDE, this guidance is definitely taken to heart. Below you will read more about our exceptional interns and student employees who play and have played a significant role in helping to meet company objectives while also honing their skills to be top-notch business leaders in their own rights. 

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8-koi Wins Place on 2022 Gator100 List

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Today, Brian K. Danforth, Assistant Vice President of Development & Executive Director of the UF Alumni Association sent notice that 8-koi made the 2022 Gator100. The Gator100 List is compiled annually to recognize high-performing businesses around the world that are founded and owned by University of Florida Alumni.

“You serve as an inspiration to your fellow Gators and the UF Alumni Association is proud to recognize you and your company’s success with this award,” said Danforth’s letter.

Nominations were open from August to October last year. 8-koi Founder and President Inga Young is a 1991 UF graduate, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting. Inga incorporated as a consultant in 2008 and now employs 150 people across the US.

“My UF education was very rigorous and prepared me for the complex world of government contract accounting,” says Inga. “After I worked with several large aerospace and technology businesses, I believed I had the skills to startup and offer niche accounting to companies contracting to the government at a better cost with more attentive service. This Gator100 recognition really means a lot to me.”

8-koi now works as a prime contractor with federal agencies such as Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and Army Corps of Engineers. In 2019, 8-koi acquired Cape Design Engineering Co. on Merritt Island as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

The official rankings will be revealed at the Gator100 Awards Ceremony to be held on Friday, April 22, 2022 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the University of Florida campus.

8-koi ranked on the 2022 “Gator100” List

Read more about The Gator100 and join us in celebrating the WIN for 8-koi™!

See the coverage in Brevard Business News. Download the article PDF.

8-koi Wins Place on SB100 List for 2021 Best of Small Business Awards

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8-koi™ is recognized as one of the honorees for the 2021 Best of Small Business Awards™! The awards program is America’s most prestigious honor that recognizes and celebrates the BEST Small to Mid-Sized Business Visionaries.  Ranked #79 on the “SB100 List,” our company joins the most elite small businesses in the Country that demonstrate exceptional growth in the marketplace, diversity, A+ Customer Service, leadership, a positive workplace environment and a profitable business model. 

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8-koi Joins Forces with Women in Defense and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office for the Holidays

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Sheena Heitzman’s SUV was packed with toys and gifts when she arrived at Cocoa Village on December 1st. She came dressed in the holiday spirit with her co-workers from 8-koi, Maidilia Rilo and Carlos Badillo, to deliver the load to the Great Brevard Toy Drop. Carlos channeled his best Santa under the Central Florida sun to show support for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Charity. The gifts will be given to infants, children, and teens throughout Brevard who are in-need of a little cheer this Christmas season.

8-koi’s Sheena Heitzman and Maidilia Rilo deliver toys and gifts to the Great Brevard Toy Drop in Cocoa Village

8-koi’s team of elves helped to collect the toys that were donated by other employees at the company’s three locations and by members of the community across Brevard. They worked to ensure that the goodies were delivered with care to the community event at Riverfront Park in time for the “Reverse Parade” to begin and follow the countywide route to pick up more toys.

“This was truly a team effort,” says Carlos Badillo, 8-koi’s Corporate Recruiter. “Our COO Dean Rosenquist received donations from business associates across the community and brought in a box full of toys the night before the Drop. Our engineering project coordinator Sheena did a wonderful job orchestrating the overall operation, and my fellow recruiter Maidilia was instrumental in coordinating with the Sheriff’s Office and establishing our collection point at our new headquarters building in Suntree.”

8-koi Corporate Recruiter Carlos Badillo having fun with Cocoa Police Officers at the Great Brevard Toy Drop

8-koi’s Melbourne and Merritt Island offices also served as collection points for the donation drive that was supported as a community initiative of the Space Coast Chapter of Women in Defense. 8-koi President Inga Young serves as the 2021-22 SCWID Board President and Sheena is Past-Treasurer.

“This was a fun endeavor and gave each and every one of us far more than we contributed. It truly captured the spirit of the season and embodied our company’s ‘human touch’ to business and to community outreach,” reflects Carlos.

8-koi delivers holiday smiles to the Great Brevard Toy Drop

See more photos on Facebook!