• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Entrepreneurs

    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 21, 2015
Electric life

Hard work, combined with self-confidence, helped Isaac Barpal get from a kibbutz in Israel to the top of Corporate America.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • August 14, 2015
Growth discipline

Naples Soap Co. has perfected its products and store site selection process for more than five years. Now it's ready to grow beyond Southwest Florida.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • August 7, 2015
Super paella

An entrepreneurial chef turned a farmers market paella stand into a franchise catering operation that can feed hundreds of people at a time.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • July 31, 2015
Business models

Two home-remodeling firms on the Gulf Coast recently earned recognition as being among the best in the nation. They share some of their secrets to success.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • July 31, 2015
'Everything's Possible'

Hands-on meets high-tech at a startup that created a unique kids building kit. The next goal: big-time sales and chain stores.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Kevin McQuaid
  • July 31, 2015
Moving up

Susie Trafton; Heather Morgan; Teal Henderson and Paula Clair Smith

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • July 24, 2015
All the marbles

Will Scott's industrial design company is on the hunt for efficiency in common products. A redesign of the cardboard box is just the first project.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Michael Hinman
  • July 24, 2015
Sky high obstacles

Drawing people to a new attraction, especially in tourist-heavy Florida, isn't for the meek.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 17, 2015
Like a bolt

Growing into a mature business can be complicated for even the starriest startup. Some successes lead to more challenges.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 17, 2015
'City within a City'

A billion-dollar Canadian homebuilding firm has ambitious plans for a large swath of the Gulf Coast.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Traci McMillan Beach
  • July 17, 2015
Energy expert

Laura Duda has learned to give herself more credit for her success.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • July 10, 2015
Public appeal

New rules make it easier for small companies to sell stock to the public because disclosure rules are less stringent.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Barry Friedman
  • July 3, 2015
This Bud's for Them

Long an underdog, the craft beer industry has a new ally in the battle against big brewers.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 26, 2015
With style

Shopping meets eating at Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 19, 2015
Room to grow

Not yet 40, Jeff Reynolds has had a diverse business career.

  • Entrepreneurs
« 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 »
The best of Business Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest business and commercial real estate news from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
  • February 4, 2026
Builder, with $5.3M site purchase, plans 222 homes in Charlotte County
2
  • February 4, 2026
Rock star sells Sarasota estate for $7.5 million
3
  • February 4, 2026
Sarasota Architectural Salvage closing storefront after 23 years
4
  • February 3, 2026
St. Petersburg Gas Plant RFP draws nine proposals
5
  • February 3, 2026
DeSantis, MLB commissioner support Tampa Bay Rays' stadium plans

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Podcast
  • Big Book of Business

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Distribution Points
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Your Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
×
3 Articles Remaining!
Not a Subscriber?

Click here to Subscribe

Already a Subscriber?

Click here to Login

Sign Up for Daily Brief

Start your day with the top Gulf Coast business news you need to succeed.

Sign Up for CRE Central

Stay updated with a weekly roundup of big deals, market shifts and the people shaping commercial real estate from Tampa Bay to Naples.


Smart People Subscribe.

Turn headlines into game plans. The playbook’s right here.
Subscribe to the Business Observer today.

Subscribe Now