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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 14, 2013
Startup Station

Floridians have yet to embrace passenger rail service. An entrepreneurial company with historical connections to Henry Flagler will nonetheless give big-time rail a go.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 7, 2013
Model behavior

Taking a charter school from startup to long-term success can be a treacherous task. Some accomplished local entrepreneurs are about to take it on anyway.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 31, 2013
Python hunter

Naples entrepreneur Tom Mooney escapes to the Everglades to hunt pythons and view the area's abundant wildlife.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 31, 2013
Rinse and repeat

A pair of entrepreneurs hopes to make good, for a second time, on an auto racing business. The risks, however, are thornier this go-around.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Janet Leiser
  • May 17, 2013
Full speed ahead

While the recession could have put Bobby Harris out of business, he shifted gears to a new idea that came with some serious growth.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 17, 2013
The chef executive

Sam Klepfish is guiding the growth of gourmet-food purveyor Innovative Food Holdings with a team of trained chefs.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 17, 2013
Work it

Doubters and disbelievers beware: Mark Pentecost has proven everyone wrong before. He plans to do it again, real soon.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 17, 2013
Ghost buster

The son of Cuban immigrants, Carlos Beruff overcame a poor childhood to find long-term success in homebuilding. Annual sales, near $60 million, are at an all-time high.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 17, 2013
Watch this

A trio of entrepreneurs weathered the downturn by making strategic acquisitions and targeting customers in another part of the country.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Traci McMillan Beach
  • May 17, 2013
Third time's a charm

It took Steve MacDonald more than one try to get it right. But in the world of entrepreneurs, persistence is a prerequisite.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 17, 2013
Perfect timing

Brian Stock has been prescient about the economic cycle, timing the new-home market with uncanny success on the downside — and the upside.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Traci McMillan Beach
  • May 17, 2013
IT biz wiz

When Matt Nachtrab realized other IT systems managers had an interest in his homegrown remote management software, he knew he had a market. Now he pulls business from the big boys.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 17, 2013
Open the shutters

Brian Rist didn't let the housing recession slow him down. When things got tough, he went to Cancun.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 17, 2013
Fit to grow

A father-son business partnership started small, but has since found its stride. They have ambitious growth targets.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 17, 2013
Bold business

Startup struggles are so 2007 for Tricia Bolds. Now, with a company nearing $5 million in annual sales, she has other pressing challenges.

  • Entrepreneurs
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