CEO Shari Dingle Sandifer (center), Senior VP Lesley Hamilton and CFO Spencer D. Lloyd

The shortage of health care professionals has spelled opportunity for Shari Dingle Sandifer. As a nurse for more than a decade, she had first-hand knowledge of the skills needed to fill those jobs. Since founding Avant Healthcare Professionals in 2003, Sandifer, CEO, has been recognized as a leader in international health care recruitment, identifying top candidates worldwide for nursing and physical and occupational therapy positions in the U.S. This year Casselberry-based Avant was named one of the 50 fastest-growing privately held women-owned companies in North America, grossing more than $10 million a year and posting average annual revenue growth of 60% since 2008.