• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Entrepreneurs

    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 19, 2024
Toy executive turns C-suite failure into his greatest success

Purpose and clarity are the bookends for retired toy executive Jamie Gallagher’s four leadership must-dos. In between those are two C's: culture and creativity.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • March 18, 2024
Skin care entrepreneur prospers with 'failure isn’t an option' attitude

When the pandemic temporarily shut down Alexis Pfropper’s new spa, she shifted. She paid rent in gift cards (the landlord loved it) and even developed a skin care line for a new revenue stream.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Jim Stinson
  • March 14, 2024
British retailer wins repeat business with customer-first strategy

Entrepreneur Carole Lannon loves Tampa Bay, and she loves her native England. Now she combines both with a thriving business, London Pride.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • March 12, 2024
Restaurant marketing exec tackles new side hustle: Children’s book author

Longtime hospitality business ad man Kevin Rooney, in writing a children’s book, takes a bite out of new market, with new challenges and opportunities.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • March 1, 2024
Truck driving school CEO revs up plan to solve parking crisis

Tra Williams is utilizing a partnership-based model, mixed with a timely app, to help truckers find a safe way to do a much needed part of the job when they aren’t driving: sleep.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • February 22, 2024
$3 million food, drink and entertainment concept a hit in Naples

Two decades of "successes, failures, bumps, bruises" guides entrepreneurs' strategy with multi-venue food and beverage venture.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • February 16, 2024
Creative entrepreneur helps beleaguered malls survive amid market shift

Mall operators seeking to draw more customers are turning to companies like US Design Lab to add a dose of fun to the experience.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • February 8, 2024
Naples dry-cleaning business overcomes series of obstacles, expands

The key to success at Platinum Dry Cleaners, a 40-employee, eight-vehicle business, revolves around a constant commitment to customer service.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 5, 2024
Life after lockup: Roofing CEO reflects on year in prison for PPP loan fraud

Casey Crowther is contrite yet driven as he continues rebuilding his life and roofing company after serving time in prison. "I get that this is on me, and it’s my job to show people who I am."

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • February 2, 2024
Entrepreneur pivots to roofing while overcoming major tragedy

Hannah Vogel’s path toward owning a roofing company, Vogel Roofing, hasn’t been easy. But she persevered. Now she wants other women to see the possibilities in the field too.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Katelyn Ferral
  • January 18, 2024
Entrepreneur seizes opportunities to expand $2.6M flooring business

Andrea Couture has big plans for a unique flooring and concrete company she acquired three years ago.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 16, 2024
Sarasota restaurateurs open new sushi location after years of delays

"If you set your mind to it, you will find a way," says Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi Grill co-owner Jeffrey Karasawa.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Jim Stinson
  • January 15, 2024
Tampa real estate branding entrepreneur sells firm but isn't retiring

Longtime real estate branding and marketing entrepreneur Nancy Walker recently sold her business to two employees.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 5, 2024
Former St. Pete state senator targets big changes in Tallahassee

A pair of policy-first leaders look to inject a sense of strategy into the chaos that often dominates in Tallahassee through a nonprofit think tank and policy bank, the Florida Policy Project.

  • Florida
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • December 29, 2023
$3.5B real estate brokerage, in a digital world, keeps opening offices

Naples-based John R. Wood Properties shows no signs of slowing down as it surpasses 65 years in business. Neither does its president and CEO.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
« 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 »
The best of Business Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest business and commecial real estate news from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
  • December 4, 2025
450-unit Nokomis apartment complex opens near Legacy Trail
2
  • December 4, 2025
Developer proposes Tampa's tallest building: 70 stories at $650 million
3
  • December 4, 2025
Airline adds flight from Fort Myers to upstate New York
4
  • December 4, 2025
50-year-old Tampa education-tech firm receives $350M investment
5
  • December 3, 2025
'Distressed' Tampa office building sells for $40M in short sale

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Podcast
  • Big Book of Business

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Distribution Points
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Your Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
×
3 Articles Remaining!
Not a Subscriber?

Click here to Subscribe

Already a Subscriber?

Click here to Login

Sign Up for Daily Brief

Start your day with the top Gulf Coast business news you need to succeed.

Sign Up for CRE Central

Stay updated with a weekly roundup of big deals, market shifts and the people shaping commercial real estate from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Smart People Subscribe.

Turn headlines into game plans. The playbook’s right here.
Subscribe to the Business Observer today.

Subscribe Now