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Entrepreneurs

    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 20, 2025
Gaming company levels up with new HQ in Nokomis, plots more growth

Fast-growing Sarasota County company Combat Waffle Studios moved into space formerly occupied by Tervis in Nokomis, where it is expanding staff and its software portfolio.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 12, 2025
3 accomplished Sarasota leaders set to retire — and get more sleep

Decades of top-level leadership will be taking a step back in the coming months with a trio of retirements: Roxie Jerde, Larry Thompson and Teri Hansen. Lessons learned are legion.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 29, 2025
Tariffs provide timely opportunity for Palmetto tool manufacturer

Spectrum Custom Molds & Manufacturing has a new headquarters where it has invested in the latest technology at a time when businesses are turning to domestic operations.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • May 23, 2025
Tampa Bay 3D printing entrepreneur beats the odds with moxie, fortitude

Roy Kirchner has made a career out of comebacks. His next big foe: dealing with tariffs.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • May 16, 2025
Four-decade restaurant industry veteran ready for her next portion

A high school job at Taco Bell has turned into a high-level restaurant career for Kelia Bazile. Her latest gig? Running $700 million brand Carrabba's.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • May 9, 2025
Entrepreneurial chemist creates winning business formula with speed, focus

A natural flair for invention and a passion for R&D power Pasco County-based burn care brand KeriCure.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 8, 2025
Grit, goals and going for it: The 2025 Top Entrepreneurs

Blending grit with a go-for-it attitude has proved to be the right mix for the Business Observer's 2025 Top Entrepreneurs.

  • Florida
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • May 8, 2025
Beck Besecker scaled $20M 3D software firm through grit, perseverance

"The reason we do this is we like to build things. That's pretty intoxicating, getting to kind of build stuff all the time." –Beck Besecker, 3D Cloud

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • May 8, 2025
Kristy Craig Anderson went from home staging out of a garage to a $10M firm

"There are so many things about being a business founder entrepreneur that are rewarding. The biggest for me … is this idea that you're creating something from nothing." –Kristy Craig Anderson, Dwell & Co.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 8, 2025
Henry Detwiler: From a 10x20 egg tent to a thriving, 6-store grocery business

“Every thing, every square foot matters.” –Henry Detwiler, Detwiler’s Farm Market

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • May 8, 2025
Anthony Solomon: Walking away from a deal is often the smartest move

“Your job is to solve puzzle. That’s how I look at what we do. Putting the puzzle together.” –Anthony Solomon, The Ronto Group

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • May 8, 2025
Elizabeth Dosoretz has built a statewide network of mental health practices

"Don't be afraid to try something or to fail or to innovate in a way that's different. … You can try it, and you can always innovate and change or pivot if you need to." –Elizabeth Dosoretz, Elite DNA Behavioral Health

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 8, 2025
Kim Githler grew media company by connecting, constantly evolving

"Experience is everything — and learning from mentors. … I found mentors, I listened to them, and they helped me get to where I am. They are still helping me to this day." –Kim Githler, MoneyShow

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 2, 2025
Fast-casual franchisee grows to four SoFresh stores in region

"I like the challenge," says entrepreneur William Wolf, who started out as a professional gamer and recently turned around an underperforming restaurant in a matter of months. One lesson? Put customer service first.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • April 18, 2025
No show dogs: Cybersecurity CEO talks $3B valuation, potential IPO

Brian Murphy details the hows and whys of getting to $3 billion in valuation.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 »
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