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Entrepreneurs

    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
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • December 23, 2023
Homebuilder targeting affordable market plots solid 2024 and even bigger 2025

An upstart division of a prominent homebuilding company continues to capitalize on housing market trends as it sticks to its winning formula.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • December 22, 2023
Hurricane protection products firm braces for stormy economy in 2024

Advanced Hurricane Technology, while winning accolades and new customers, keeps one eye on a slowing economy that "certainly is scaring everyone here," the firm president says.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 21, 2023
Funeral home business finds success with new life celebration model

In an industry like funeral services, where one executive says many leaders can be quite "stubborn," change happens slowly. A Sarasota family business helps pick up the pace.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 19, 2023
Sarasota law firm hits 100 employees, readies for more growth

Evan Berlin’s biggest professional risk, launching his own firm 20 years ago, has grown into a big success.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
« 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 »
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