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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 9, 2018
Businessman takes a leap of faith into restaurant business

Tony Leopardi, owner of Cornerstone Builders, opens Leopardi's Italian Restaurant

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Grier Ferguson
  • November 2, 2018
Aviation veteran buys airline, aims to ramp up company's growth

After 40 years in commercial aviation, Sanford Rederer decided he wanted an airline of his own. How will he make this business take off?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 2, 2018
Ex-NFL star Vincent Jackson catches effective business principles

Two years into retirement after a dozen NFL seasons, five with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Vincent Jackson, 35, has a handful of business and philanthropic interests in the Tampa area. It ranges from private equity and real estate to military family housing

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 2, 2018
Entrepreneur finds fuel for leasing success

Peter Wasmer reconstitutes Chrome Capital as Fuel Capital with plans to capture the pre-owned Harley-Davidson leasing market

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • October 25, 2018
Dan Bavaro, 39

Dan Bavaro, 39, is the founder of Bavaro Foods in Tampa, Florida.

  • Class of 2018
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • October 25, 2018
Thomas Paterek, 32

Thomas Paterek, 32, is the co-founder and co-owner of Stevie & Fern, a St. Petersburg, Florida-based marketing agency.

  • Class of 2018
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 19, 2018
Senior adviser

Bruce Rosenblatt Senior Housing Solutions

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • September 7, 2018
After early hurdles, rockstar entrepreneur finds her way

Memberships — the recurring revenue stream that’s the lifeblood of her business model — have increased from 100 in 2016 to 315 today. Jenny Townsend expects to be around 400 members by the end of 2018, and plans to expand into more adult lessons later thi

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2018
Big call: Local companies receive retail giant's blessing

Walmart's fifth annual open call competition was a success for three Gulf Coast companies that will soon find their products on the retail giant's shelves.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Grier Ferguson
  • August 17, 2018
Entrepreneur's journey takes him from night clerk to store owner

John Nguyen worked his way up from a 7-Eleven night clerk to a franchisee with three stores. Success, he says, stems from systems — and a willingness to take out the trash.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • John Haughey
  • August 10, 2018
Roast of the town: Iraq war vet wows Publix with expanding business

Mulberry High School graduate and Marine Corps Iraq War veteran Chris McArthur has hit the jackpot with grocery giant Publix, which began to sell Patriot Coffee in 350 stores statewide in June.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 20, 2018
Six years later, Zoomers owner is still riding high

Mike Barnes bought bankrupt and incomplete Zoomers Amusement Park in Fort Myers in 2011 for $1.3 million and invested $5 million more to open

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 13, 2018
Software 'excelerates' fraud detection

Excelerate Technology founder Barbara Steinberg is exclusive U.S. reseller of Altia-ABM fraud detection software

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 29, 2018
The metal to succeed in roofing products fabrication

Two-year-old company Architectural Metal Flashings disrupts the industry and earns second place in the Florida Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Awards

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 22, 2018
Naples company finding sweet success in sugar substitute market

Pyure Brands founder Benjamin Fleischer build his stevia business by hiring entrepreneurial-minded employees.

  • Entrepreneurs
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