Tech firm answers to higher power on job creation

SARASOTA — Star2Star Communications, a software development firm that provides Internet communications for businesses, received a Hire Power Award from Inc. Magazine.

The award, according to the magazine, recognizes the top private business job creators in the country over the last 18 months. Sarasota-based Star2Star created 62 jobs over that time, for a total payroll of 151 employees. That tally was good for fourth in the telecommunications category and 19th in Florida, a release from the company states.

“We've won a number of awards for our products, our technology, and our continued growth,” Star2Star CEO Norman Worthington says in the statement. “This award underscores the personal side of what we do, and the positive effect we've had on the lives of our employees and our community.”

Star2Star, founded in 2006, provides a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system that offers businesses everything from hardware and software to setup and support. Clients include many large national retail and restaurant chains.

Other Gulf Coast companies that won an Inc. Hire Power Award include Tampa-based IT consulting firm Tribridge, with 225 new jobs over the 18 months; Clearwater-based CWU, a defense contractor, with 151 jobs; Tampa-based defense contractor ARMA Global Corp., with 149 jobs; and Palm Harbor based Nationwide Title Clearing, with 102 jobs. Companies must have been founded in 2011 or earlier and have employed at least 10 full-time U.S.-based employees by Dec. 31, 2012 to make the list.