Entrepreneurial firm hopes to occupy Orlando

An entertainment entity homegrown on the Gulf Coast might soon bulldoze its way into Orlando, the worldwide capital of theme parks.

In fact, the people behind People at Play, a Bradenton-based heavy construction equipment playground for adults, have scouted sites in and around Orlando for a potential second location. Jason and Alisa Bennett, who also run Bradenton-based Bennett Contracting, a $3.5 million firm that specializes in site work and excavation, launched People at Play in December 2010.

People at Play offers a series of packages that allow adults to run bulldozers, excavators and skid steer loaders. Alisa Bennett tells Coffee Talk that after a first year of growing pains, People at Play is profitable, so an Orlando location makes perfect sense.

While People at Play occupies a lot of the Bennetts' time these days, the entrepreneurial couple haven't dumped their other business. On that front, they recently learned Bennett Contracting is one of 12 finalists for Equipment World magazine's Contractor of the Year Award. Sponsored by Caterpillar, the award is for companies with between $3 million and $15 million in annual sales that are at least 10 years old and own five or more ride-on construction machines.

Bennett Contracting, which will be 12 years old in March, fits those requirements. “We are always looking for something that sets us apart,” says Alisa Bennett. “This is really something we can celebrate.”