• 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
  • Jean Gruss
  • July 31, 2012
Batter up!

When collegiate sports announced a new standard for aluminum baseball bats, a major league pitcher and his sister stepped up to the plate.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 27, 2012
Dive In

Thomas Contreras's life was in shatters. But his patented invention, a tool for fishermen and divers, could be his salvation.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 13, 2012
Data Driven

A business-coaching program run by a prominent nationwide entrepreneurial foundation has expanded to Florida. The Gulf Coast is the first stop.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Heidi Kurpiela
  • July 6, 2012
Bright New Start

With her new line of sailcloth totes, Emily Stroud is hoping to change the way women go to the beach. The up-and-coming designer explains why she bagged her job in the name of fashion.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Lindsay Downey
  • July 6, 2012
Visual Victory

Home makeovers have a seen a recession-era lift in popularity. A forward-thinking entrepreneur hopes to capitalize on the trend, with technology leading the way.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • June 29, 2012
Instant Entrepreneur

Jason Fry was tending bar when he won the Florida Lottery in late 2007. Unlike lucky people who spent all their winnings, Fry parlayed his millions into successful businesses.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 15, 2012
Snap Success

Rejecting naysayers can be the toughest part of turning an invention into commercial success. One determined entrepreneur pulled it off.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 15, 2012
Smooth Moves

A recession might not be the best time to open two smoothie stores. But one entrepreneurial couple has defied the economy.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 15, 2012
Game On

Sam Vrinios is a decidedly unordinary teenager. For one, his business is approaching $500,000 in total sales — and he's only 15.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Rod Thomson
  • June 1, 2012
Marketing Like Crazy

PostcardMania never let up on the marketing gas, even when the economy tanked and revenues fell. It paid off.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • June 1, 2012
Farming for New Business

Economic turmoil forces people to become entrepreneurial. Economic growth will be powered by new entrepreneurs born in incubators.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 25, 2012
Scott Fischer

The CEO of Scott Fischer Enterprises, owner and operator of five Harley-Davidson motorcycle stores, opened his Fort Myers office for a peek into his world.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 25, 2012
Pet Luxuries

Turning old spaces into new success stories is a powerful antidote to the downturn. Bob Huff, an ambitious entrepreneur, intends to pull it off.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 25, 2012
Money Bugs

How hard could it be to sell insect-repellent in Florida? It's not as easy as you think, but one entrepreneur is undeterred.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 25, 2012
Wheels of Advertising

A group of entrepreneurs plans to sell advertising on virgin territory: the wheels of taxicabs.

  • Entrepreneurs
« 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 »
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