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Entrepreneurs

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