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Entrepreneurs

    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 8, 2020
Company founder reaches high for next venture

Starting from his teens to nearly 50 years old, Barry Shevlin has had a passion for ideas. It’s led to some big entrepreneurial successes.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 8, 2020
Flood insurance firm grows 366%, hits $7M in sales

An opportunity to build a startup insurance firm into a national brand, shortly after leading a bank to a lucrative sale, is the just-right fit for this move-fast entrepreneur.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • April 23, 2020
Road less traveled: Tourism CEO takes career detour with new venture

Keith Overton, former CEO of TradeWinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach, Florida, has plans for a new RV and cottage resort in Pasco County.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • April 10, 2020
Clean-up hitter: Real estate veteran targets car wash industry disruption

Property developer Don Phillips wants to shake up the car wash industry with Woodie's Wash Shack, his nascent chain of high-tech car washes.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 26, 2020
Specialty food company manages rush on orders

A surge of business now might cause problems later for Beneficial Blends — but the founder is happy it's 'still around to fight for ourselves.'

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 26, 2020
Cleaning companies grapple with business overload

Industrial and decontamination cleanup companies are the low-hanging fruit of business increases as the pandemic plays out.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 25, 2020
Soap company founder utilizes past crisis-management lessons

Online sales are up 140% year-over-year at Naples Soap Co.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • March 21, 2020
Travel agency retains concierge service

Preferred Travel of Naples expects travel to bounce back eventually, but right now is focused on providing customers excellent service.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • March 20, 2020
Insurance executive gives up CEO life for real estate venture

Not content to take it easy in retirement, a longtime insurance industry executive risked his nest egg on a real estate venture. One key to pulling it off? Knowing there are things you don't know.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 6, 2020
Media entrepreneur took on big challenges long before pandemic

Ruth Soukup is living example that being afraid shouldn’t derail anyone’s business dreams. She has a $5 million business to prove it.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Grier Ferguson
  • February 21, 2020
Area entrepreneur creates business with handcrafted bow ties

Travis Ray runs The Dapper Bowtique.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Grier Ferguson
  • February 21, 2020
Cookie entrepreneur focuses on customer service

Cindy Unzicker makes and sells cookies with her side hustle, Bite Me Cookies by Cindy.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • February 21, 2020
Numbers game: Bookkeeper moonlights as insurance saleswoman

Carmen Luciano has found fast success in selling insurance as a side hustle, through Clearwater-based Strategic Insurance Services.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • February 21, 2020
Take a vow: Marketing exec officiates at weddings as a side hustle

St. Petersburg marketing campaign manager George Smetzer has been officiating weddings as a side hustle since 2014.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • January 31, 2020
Reinventing the steel: New leadership revives metal-making firm

Tampa Steel & Supply, with new owner Troy Underwood at the helm, has grown significantly and expanded its technical capabilities.

  • Entrepreneurs
« 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 »
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