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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2008
Rooms Service

John McKibbon continues a family tradition of building and managing hotels, expanding the company throughout the Southeast.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2008
Naples protection bubble

Naples was spared the overbuilding of shops that occurred in other areas of the Gulf Coast, and retail sales have not declined there as sharply. Is Naples immune to the retail downturn?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2008
Injecting Innovation

Entrepreneur Frank Daniels carries on a family tradition of leading a water-powered chemical injector company in Largo into new markets.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2008
Betting the Farm

How can government take land without paying for it? A successful farming family in Lee County is about to find out on July 1.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 19, 2008
Commercial anchor

While retail banks expanded rapidly, The Bank of Tampa centered on its commercial customers. The focus served it well.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 19, 2008
Back for More

Gary Tice and Garrett Richter built a legendary banking franchise on the Gulf Coast before they sold it in 2005 for top dollar. Can they succeed again?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 19, 2008
BankEstate

The old banker's refrain - they don't want to be in real estate - is dying as foreclosures multiply across the Gulf Coast. Still, some banks are getting creative in solving the problem.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 19, 2008
Face off

The softer economy has put pressure on banks and credit unions to grow their business, which is similar and embattled.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 19, 2008
Bank Returns

The new boss at Freedom Bank comes with a stellar resume and track record. Will it be enough to lead a turnaround?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 19, 2008
Looking Inland

Lehigh Acres is one of the areas of the Gulf Coast hardest hit by the real estate bust. So why is a group of investors betting a new bank will succeed there?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
'Growaholic'

Larry Morgan can look back on a lot of success as an entrepreneur, but prefers to plan the next business conquest.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
Business prospects on hold in Lee County

Business prospects in Lee County are dim, but there are some hopeful signs, according to a quarterly survey of more than 200 companies conducted for the Horizon Council, a business group in Fort Myers.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
Calendar of Events

View events from around the Gulf Coast for free.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
Sensing Success

Alaka'i, an engineering research and development firm, is seeing consistent growth through its bomb-detecting sensors.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2008
Around the World

In the high-stakes world of running an international travel agency, it helps to be opportunistic. Never take no for an answer.

  • Entrepreneurs
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