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Entrepreneurs

    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 23, 2024
Polk County education exec links employers, job seekers

Naomi Boyer is focused on how to change the way the world looks at skills.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • August 23, 2024
Developer pushes tiny homes as solution to affordable housing crisis

Dan Dobrowolski has been building small houses for two decades and believes they provide homeowners what they need and are more humane than traditional apartment blocks.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • August 23, 2024
Fort Myers Beach Chamber head leads complicated Ian recovery

Jacki Liszak balances many needs and wants in her role as the town’s chief business cheerleader.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 23, 2024
Secretive Naples' exec on how to build a $3B medical device business

Reinhold Schmieding says little publicly about the company he founded, Arthrex. His silence belies the company’s resounding, generational success.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • August 17, 2024
St. Pete tech entrepreneur launches Uber Eats — but on Jet Skis

John Bonaccorso is building an offshore ecommerce empire one bite — and Band-Aid — at a time.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • August 16, 2024
How childhood friends built a pro women's soccer team — from scratch

On the eve of its first-ever game, a look at what it took to build the Tampa Bay Sun FC.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • August 15, 2024
SWFL contractor expands services, nears $50M in revenue

The rapid expansion of Duane and Jennifer Lopez's contracting business is made easier with the firm's core hiring philosophy: It recruits people it knows "would run it like (they) would run it as owners."

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 13, 2024
Fairgrounds operator seeks appreciation, less 'poking fun' from officials

The Sarasota County Fairgrounds operator calls the open space and civic buildings a community asset that runs "on its own dime."

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • August 5, 2024
SWFL potato-infused food truck owners relish quick success

Jonathon Simpson and Hunter Busch are looking into expansion as word spreads of their unique menu items.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • August 2, 2024
Art of building a $300M beverage-flavoring business requires nimble approach

French beverage-flavoring company Monin moved into the United States for the weather and proximity to a key supplier. It's now here going on 30 years — with $300 million in revenue.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • July 31, 2024
Tampa deli owner reflects on five decades of lessons

Jeff Mount never saw himself as "just" a sandwich guy. "If we’re selling sandwiches, we’re in trouble because a lot of people sell sandwiches. We’re in the experience business."

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 25, 2024
Italian restaurant chain founder slows down with latest venture

Bar Italia, founder Ricky Doody says, won't get as big as Bravo! Cucina Italiana or Brio Tuscan Grille.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • July 24, 2024
Tampa councilwoman writes her next chapter, opens bookstore

Gwen Henderson, seeing an unmet need for a community-driven niche bookstore, adds business owner to her resume.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • July 12, 2024
'Customer is always right' attitude fosters growth at Sarasota metal store

Stanley and Natalie Kinnett own two Metal Supermarkets retail businesses in Florida, including one with a 93% customer satisfaction rating.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 11, 2024
Artist behind $1,800 mailboxes delivers on ambitious expansion plans

Forced to move by redevelopment, pipe-bending entrepreneurial artist Scott Gerber finds a new home.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 »

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