• 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
  • May 2, 2014
Snorkel on Steroids

A semiretired entrepreneur poured more than six figures of savings into his invention. Now he's poised to swallow some serious growth.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 2, 2014
Name that Reef

An ambitious plan to build a massive network of artificial reefs off the Southwest Florida coast is becoming reality. They come with naming rights.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • April 25, 2014
'Make it Happen'

Sara Blakely sold fax machines door-to-door. She was a standup comedian. Then she got serious and launched a business that shifted a multibillon-dollar industry.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • April 25, 2014
Come back home

Sanjay Kuttemperoor is building a real estate forum utilizing the 'wiki' concept of widespread content contribution. It's a big undertaking that requires top talent.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • April 25, 2014
Grand Poobah

Samantha Scott says she's gotten better at figuring out the work-life balance.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Traci McMillan Beach
  • April 18, 2014
Market Revolution

To keep pace with his fast-growing marketing firm, HubSpot, CEO Brian Halligan has a new strategy: Think more and work less.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • April 18, 2014
Tipping Point

Rick Rone trapped a mouse — the one that lives in Orlando — last year. The experience, which includes three years of 'never take no' perseverance, not only boosted sales. It made him a smarter businessman.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Traci McMillan Beach
  • April 11, 2014
Bangles for the buck

Carley Ochs may not have any idea what the next year will bring in sales. But the 28-year-old owner of Bourbon and Boweties knows her jewelry business isn't slowing down anytime soon.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • March 21, 2014
In the zone

Reality television shows are hot, and Chuck Ardezzone hopes his pilots will hit it big. The payoff could be huge.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • February 21, 2014
Travel pro

Wilma Boyd, president and CEO of Preferred Travel of Naples, is the doyenne of luxury travel. From hiring flight attendants for TWA in the 1970s to running a successful travel agency today, Boyd speaks about her entrepreneurial career and shares insights into the business.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 14, 2014
A big cup

It took novice inventor William Merritt nearly a decade to get his product ready for the marketplace. He hopes sales success arrives much faster.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Traci McMillan Beach
  • January 31, 2014
Loans with a click

Online lender OnDeck is touring the country to pitch to small businesses that can't get loans from a bank. As the company approaches servicing $1 billion in loans, CEO Noah Breslow says building trust remains a challenge.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • January 17, 2014
Bet the farm

A group of entrepreneurs are creating an urban farm with the idea of feeding the world's hungry. First, they have to turn a profit.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Traci McMillan Beach
  • January 17, 2014
Caffeinated collaboration

A grassroots community organization in St. Pete spurs business ideas over cups of coffee. The growing meetup is gaining energy with the help of local entrepreneurs.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • January 17, 2014
Island roast

Bennett's Fresh Roast spent $3 million to open a coffee and doughnut shop on Sanibel Island. That's a lot of beans.

  • Entrepreneurs
« 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 »
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
Darden to transform 4 Bahama Breeze eateries in region
2
  • February 4, 2026
Tampa firm invests $5.5M into Sarasota townhome project
3
  • February 4, 2026
Builder, with $5.3M site purchase, plans 222 homes in Charlotte County
4
  • February 4, 2026
Rock star sells Sarasota estate for $7.5 million
5
  • February 4, 2026
Sarasota Architectural Salvage closing storefront after 23 years

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