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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 15, 2025
'Reluctant Tampa celebrity' Blake Casper is all-in on the way to $100M

Turns out there's life — and a smorgasbord of opportunities — after selling a supersized portfolio of McDonald's restaurants. Blake Casper proves that through some shrewd and stylish choices.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 12, 2025
New SRQ airport CEO brings steely levels of experience to role

Paul Hoback helped remake Pittsburgh into "the best origin and destination airport we can be." Now he aims to carry on the legacy at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • August 2, 2025
Hoffmann Family's new Naples boutique a step toward national expansion, says matriarch

More than 50 years of marriage and helping create a multibillion business has not dimmed Jerri Hoffmann’s entrepreneurial drive.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 1, 2025
New Melting Pot leader dishes on growth goals, culture lessons

John Crawford melds key lessons in building high-performing teams and meeting high-bar financial goals with an empathic side in his new role at the helm of the Melting Pot.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • July 31, 2025
'Celebration restaurant' gets new owners in Sarasota

The Melting Pot in Sarasota is now owned by a group of seasoned entrepreneurs with local roots.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Janet Leiser
  • July 25, 2025
Founders design fitness club to meet untapped demand in wellness industry

A $2 million investment in a new fitness studio concept — with more capital likely to come — has the pair of Tampa entrepreneurs behind Revivery looking at potentially hundreds of locations.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Chuck Merlis
  • July 17, 2025
Former Pinellas homeless couple now run $1.5M car detail firm

Starting, and now growing, a niche auto industry business has been a lifesaving enterprise for the Eberhardts.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • July 16, 2025
Top Southeast official for SBA reflects on growing up in Sarasota

Tyler Teresa, who grew up in Sarasota and whose family owns a business there, is the Southeast regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • July 15, 2025
Sarasota water bottling startup looks to grab market share

WellHouse has successfully gotten past some initial challenges — sourcing, partnerships, licensing, to name a few. Now the founder looks to scale the startup.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • 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
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