• 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

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • February 18, 2025
Tampa school launches entrepreneurship institute, seeks to hire director

The new director of a Tampa private school's Entrepreneurship Institute will be tasked with germinating relationships with local businesses.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • February 5, 2025
Tampa liquor store chain grows revenue 25%, store count 50%

Liquor Depot owner Trey Lawson keeps tabs on trends and tastes. He also has found a just-right recipe for turning social media posts into brick-and-mortar store foot traffic.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • January 29, 2025
Former hotel sales exec eyes big growth for SWFL home inspection business

Hotel sales executive-turned-entrepreneur Joe Nugent, in seizing opportunities for his now 10-year-old home inspection company, has a never break rule: "I won't just hire a warm body."

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 27, 2025
Follow the reading habits of a local million-dollar tech startup founder

From a police officer to the global C-Suite to starting his own company, Casey Marquette remains steadfast on one get and stay ahead factor: reading leadership books.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 24, 2025
Naples billionaire: Why and how he's giving away his fortune

Scrappy self-made Naples billionaire Tom Golisano is approaching $1 billion in lifetime donations to nonprofits. Business principles guide his giving.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • January 15, 2025
Entrepreneur aims to restore rotted structures with new franchise

The model behind Preservan, an Oklahoma-based company debuting in Tampa Bay, is to repair, not replace, wooden parts of structures.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • January 14, 2025
Tampa-based home watch service launches

The duo plans to keep their eyes on your prized possession.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 3, 2025
CEO on waterfront restaurant acquisitions, despite storms: 'Like a dream'

Greg Powers, the CEO of Beachside Hospitality Group, a company with 15 restaurants in Florida, dishes on its latest portfolio additions.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • December 26, 2024
Transformative Ybor project is going full throttle, despite headwinds

Darryl Shaw spent the year seeing projects come to life and isn’t done yet.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 22, 2024
Popular Sarasota plant-based coffee house gets new owner: Founder's son

Simon's Coffee House, founded in 1991, has become a staple of plant-based dining in the Sarasota community.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 21, 2024
Retiring SRQ airport chief rose from janitor's closet to executive suite

Rick Piccolo began his 53-year career scrubbing toilets at a Buffalo airport. He will leave SRQ after 30 years doing nearly every airport job along the way.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • December 20, 2024
Entrepreneurs return to their roots for new events venue venture

Lee County couple Rodney and Stacey Poole are taking it slow while utilizing innovative ideas for a somewhat counterintuitive multimillion-dollar business pursuit: They bought a farm.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • December 19, 2024
Clearwater boy scout, troop break national popcorn sale records

After rigorous goal setting and sales, Troop 313 has popped to the top.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 16, 2024
CEO of firm that bought PGT for $3.1B opens up about deal, future

Matt DeSoto says he learned you could never communicate enough when it comes to acquisition integration.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 13, 2024
Former Navy SEAL invests $1M in Sarasota-Manatee fitness franchise

Behind a "never complain and never quit" disposition, Jeff Moore seeks a business legacy not of sales records and awards but of developing other leaders. "I'm all go, no stop. All gas, no brakes."

  • Manatee-Sarasota
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 »
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
  • March 27, 2026
Property owner proposes 46 townhomes to replace Sarasota bowling alley
2
  • March 27, 2026
Three-building complex sells in Clearwater
3
  • March 27, 2026
Furniture store closing Sarasota location
4
  • March 27, 2026
DOJ sues Busch Gardens parent company for rollator walker ban
5
  • March 26, 2026
Athletic training franchise opens in Sarasota

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