For the second consecutive year, Scott Bartnick, a 2015 graduate of the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE) at the University of Florida, has been named a Gator100 honoree. The award honors UF alumni who have created some of the fastest-growing businesses in the world.
Bartnick is the co-founder and CEO of Otter PR, which was ranked No. 32 on 2025’s list of honorees.
“Being named to the Gator 100 is a huge honor,” Bartnick said. “Last year, I remember sitting in the auditorium feeling incredibly proud—not just to be a Gator, but a Gator engineer and alumnus.”
After attending UF, Bartnick spent several years working for Fortune 500 companies before launching his first entrepreneurial venture as an Amazon service consultant and brand marketer. He is an internationally renowned e-commerce and media expert who has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and IBTimes.
“Right out of UF, I joined Eaton Corp — a Fortune 500 company — in their leadership development program,” he said. “My first role was in continuous improvement, and I used a lot of what I learned in my UF engineering courses: plant layouts, lean systems, process optimization. Those skills made me successful early on and opened new doors for me.
One of his earliest ventures, The Five Day Startup for e-commerce consulting, was turned into a successful book in 2018.
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Bartnick co-founded Otter Public Relations with Jay Feldman. It became a multi-million-dollar media agency working with some of the world’s top thought leaders, businesses and entrepreneurs. His insight and expertise help clients break into mainstream media and grow their brand globally.
He said his time at UF was key to his success.
“In leadership roles, I relied heavily on the interpersonal skills I developed in Greek life and extracurriculars, things like managing events, philanthropy and communicating with teams,” he said. “When I transitioned into entrepreneurship, I started applying my technical knowledge again, especially as my business grew and I needed to optimize operations.
“UF gave me the foundation, the opportunities and the confidence to grow as a professional, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without that experience.”
This two-time Gator100 member is all about the orange and blue. Asked about his favorite spot on campus, he answered quickly: The Swamp. No question.
“I have so many great memories watching games there,” he said. “I was lucky to be at UF during the Tim Tebow era and watching the basketball team win another national championship this year just reminded me again how proud I am to be a Gator.”
About Otter PR:
The company has been listed as the No. 1 PR firm by Clutch, G2 and UpCity. Based in Florida, the award-winning team of 45-plus experts guarantee media coverage monthly. With more than 35 awards and features in Forbes & The New York Times, the company redefines PR. Otter PR’s proprietary OTR™ method emphasizes Outreach, Trends and Relationships. The company’s mission is to ensure clients’ narratives stand out.
Fun fact:
A diehard snowboarder, Bartnick is an avid traveler who hopes to visit every continent.