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Entrepreneurs

    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • March 27, 2024
Broker reflects on the conservation conversation that changed Florida

Dean Saunders' work on conservation easements has preserved hundreds of thousands of acres across Florida by bringing businesses and environmentalists together.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • March 25, 2024
Former GE executive, son open $4M restaurant in Sarasota

New restaurant owners Dan Henson and Dan Henson Jr. have no direct hospitality experience. At Arts & Central in Sarasota, they plan to make up for that with passion and a heightened sense of purpose.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • March 22, 2024
CEO Shirl Penney: From the depths of poverty to running a billion-dollar business

Shirl Penney’s life — from homeless teen to founding a $90 billion financial services company — is a made-for-Hollywood story. It’s also a story of grit, guts and grandfatherly lessons.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Jim Stinson
  • March 21, 2024
Busboy-turned-owner builds on Tampa Bay Village Inn empire

Daniel Lehan IV has turned a teenage busboy gig into a multimillion-dollar restaurant enterprise. One simple key to success: You have to like people.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    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
« 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 »
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