As Economy Bleeds, Business Booms for Calvin, Giordano

By Lisa Rab Fri., Oct. 23 2009 at 12:26 PM

Categories: Broward, Business, Politics

Calvin, Giordano is making record profits this year.

Don't be deceived by news of layoffs, foreclosures, bank failures, and tax hikes. South Florida's economy isn't suffering too badly. Take Calvin, Giordano & Associates, the Fort Lauderdale consulting firm that's on track to break its own record with $25 million in revenue this year.

President Dennis Giordano says the company is "experiencing the most rapid growth" in its 72-year history.

And that shouldn't surprise anyone who has been following the firm's Halliburton-style monopoly on government contracts in South Florida.

As the Juice has reported, Calvin, Giordano provides basic government services -- from planning and engineering to emergency management -- to dozens of local municipalities in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. In some places, such as the City of West Park, the company does nearly everything except police the streets and put out fires.Giordano says he's helping small cities, by saving them the cost of employing full-time workers with health and pension benefits.

But with multimillion-dollar government contracts and consultants who charge $160 an hour, Calvin, Giordano is certainly getting a good bargain, too.