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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Laura Lyon
  • May 9, 2024
Mike Quillen's quest for constant improvement continues

“One of the things that drives my success is, every day you wake up there’s a different problem, and you just hope you can solve those problems.” –Mike Quillen, Gecko’s Hospitality Group, Watershed Hospitality Concepts

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • May 9, 2024
Syd Kitson: The dreamer behind solar-powered community Babcock Ranch

"People ask me, 'Gee, if you're an environmentalist, how can you be a developer?' I think it's the perfect combination. It's our responsibility to mitigate those impacts and do it in a sustainable way." –Syd Kitson, Kitson & Partners

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 2, 2024
The power of the power pose: How a software CEO became a better leader

Through an open mind, determination to learn from missteps and lots of repetition, Dean Guida has guided himself to become a better leader.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • April 26, 2024
Global volleyball stars launch multisport facility in Venice

Business partners Donald Suxho and Yury Shakirov are building a dedicated training facility with volleyball and pickleball courts that they believe will draw both future pros and those looking for fun.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • April 12, 2024
Sarasota family printing business succeeds by maintaining mutual respect

Shared philosophies keep the presses rolling harmoniously at Serbin Printing. "You’ve got to have open lines of communication, and you just can’t be a right fighter," says Mark Serbin.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jim Stinson
  • April 10, 2024
USF embraces opportunities to connect with more businesses

A 160-employee University of South Florida department serves as a front porch for the school's myriad opportunities to partner with startups, established companies and nonprofits.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • April 8, 2024
NY concert promoter, exec brings exclusive private gig club to Sarasota

Barry Weisblatt is using his decades of music business exocrine to jumpstart a new business idea: a private concert club.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jim Stinson
  • April 5, 2024
Eager entrepreneurs aim to shake up the Tampa networking scene

Skip the chicken dinners. Pass on old-style meet-and-greets. An energetic group of young Tampa entrepreneurs are out to change the way networking is done.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • April 3, 2024
Ambitious group aims to bring children’s museum to Sarasota

With more and more families moving to the area, a group of women and moms aims to fill a gaping hole in the Sarasota-Bradenton market: a lack of a children’s museum.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 29, 2024
Exit interview: Key moments in 30-year transformation of University of Tampa

Ron Vaughn’s turnaround strategy at the University of Tampa nearly 30 years ago was straightforward: Stop overspending. Find the big problems and solve them fast. And prioritize constant improvement.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
« 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 »
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