Entrepreneurs

By Allison Koehler
August 14, 2026

Former Bucs lineman builds Tampa private aviation service, seeks to grow

Jim Pyne navigates his next private air venture, after taking a separate firm in the industry public.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

Elizabeth Djinis
August 14, 2026

Former McDonald's franchisees expand SWFL coffee shop portfolio

No matter if it's burgers, beans or BLTs, one entrepreneur's secret sauce lies in constantly finding ways to stand out from the crowd.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

Elizabeth King
August 11, 2026

Lakewood Ranch duo launches local online auction site with big ambitions

MingoBid aims to connect Sarasota and Manatee residents with discounted merchandise.

Manatee-Sarasota

Louis Llovio
July 28, 2026

Busch Gardens' new boss talks $200M park expansion, 30 years in the field

Jon Vigue became the new president of Busch Gardens Tampa two months ago and is already looking at how to put his stamp on a park with a 67-year history.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

Mark Gordon
July 8, 2026

California Pizza Kitchen co-founder dishes on culture, billion-dollar secrets

Be a "work with" company — not a "work for" company. Prioritize kindness. Do the hard right thing. Leadership lessons come from all sides in a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur's story.

Leadership

Louis Llovio
June 23, 2026

Naples' Hoffmann gets official approval to buy NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins

The family-owned company can move ahead with buying the professional hockey team after the league's governing body gave the transaction its official blessing.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

Madison Bierl
June 11, 2026

$12M east Manatee Chick-fil-A operator to open larger store

Jonathan Ith has run Chick-fil-A Creekwood for the past 25 years and is excited for a bigger and better opportunity he was offered.

Manatee-Sarasota

Louis Llovio
June 5, 2026

The rise and fall of Patrick Britton-Harr: From high-flying entrepreneur to convicted felon

The Justice Department calls the story of Patrick Britton-Harr, who charmed investors and local business watchers while systematically defrauding investors and facing federal investigations, a cautionary tale.

Manatee-Sarasota

Ian Swaby
June 4, 2026

Sarasota auto dealer adds secondary business, with his son: Pokémon cards

Josh Stacy turned part of his used car dealership into a shop for a different asset, Pokémon cards, after his son Silas helped inspire his interest.

Manatee-Sarasota

Elizabeth King
June 4, 2026

Waldorf Astoria developer says sales 'remarkable,' likens city to Monaco

A developer with three active residential projects in Sarasota shares how the Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota came to be, why Sarasota is in its own class and what his next development won't be.

Manatee-Sarasota

Business Observer Staff
May 21, 2026

The Business Observer Top Entrepreneur luncheon — the event in photos

Over 200 people attended the annual event.

Florida

Mark Gordon
May 20, 2026

From Publix to Costco, St. Pete CRE exec is go-to hire for retail giants

Rachel Wein's unique approach to consulting for commercial real estate has led her to some of the world's most known brands. "I sincerely hope I’m with Costco until the end of time," she says.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

Mark Gordon
May 19, 2026

The ‘Queen of pitch’ dishes on the secrets to her $2.5B success

Forbes Riley’s success in pitching billions of dollars of stuff, from ab rockers to Zoobooks, has led to a lifetime of hard-earned lessons.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

Elizabeth Djinis
May 15, 2026

Mark Vengroff: Hyperfocusing on an in-demand niche pays big dividends

"We went through a lot of struggles on a lot of things, … but every big mistake we had, we had some huge reward come out of it in the end." –Mark Vengroff, One Stop Housing

Manatee-Sarasota

Beth Luberecki
May 15, 2026

David Diamond: High school dream turns into a business on the cusp of $1B

"We've never borrowed money and never asked for investors, and it's worked out really well for us." –David Diamond, CEO, co-founder, DeAngelis Diamond

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

1 2 3 4 5 »

Former Bucs lineman builds Tampa private aviation service, seeks to grow

Former McDonald's franchisees expand SWFL coffee shop portfolio

Lakewood Ranch duo launches local online auction site with big ambitions

Busch Gardens' new boss talks $200M park expansion, 30 years in the field

California Pizza Kitchen co-founder dishes on culture, billion-dollar secrets

Naples' Hoffmann gets official approval to buy NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins

$12M east Manatee Chick-fil-A operator to open larger store

The rise and fall of Patrick Britton-Harr: From high-flying entrepreneur to convicted felon

Sarasota auto dealer adds secondary business, with his son: Pokémon cards

Waldorf Astoria developer says sales 'remarkable,' likens city to Monaco

The Business Observer Top Entrepreneur luncheon — the event in photos

From Publix to Costco, St. Pete CRE exec is go-to hire for retail giants

The ‘Queen of pitch’ dishes on the secrets to her $2.5B success

Mark Vengroff: Hyperfocusing on an in-demand niche pays big dividends

David Diamond: High school dream turns into a business on the cusp of $1B

North Manatee Soccer Club's ex-treasurer charged in $146K fraud scheme

AdventHealth brings advanced stroke treatment to Pasco

USF opens $33M College of Nursing building to tackle Florida shortage

$300M hospital planned for Cape Coral

North Port daycare property sells for $3.6 million

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