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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 27, 2025
Longtime Sarasota planner masters the art of big project diplomacy

Following a six-year hiatus with the Bay Park Conservancy, the former head of Kimley-Horn's Sarasota office, Bill Waddill, is back. And he is focused on completing the downtown Sarasota puzzle.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 26, 2025
Multimillion-dollar Bradenton tech CEO overcomes drug addiction

Miranda Monahan held what she calls a "dirty secret" for decades: That, despite running a profitable tech firm, she was also a drug addict.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • June 23, 2025
SWFL Tex-Mex restaurant seeks new spots in Sarasota, Pinellas

Tacos & Tequila Cantina keeps on pouring more growth. Two keys: prioritizing its staff and offering an affordable menu.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
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