• 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
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 10, 2012
Mesmerizing Appeal

The company with the biggest budget won't win the battle for the best brand. The champ instead will be the firm that delivers the most memorable experience.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 3, 2012
Clear View

A poised and ambitious inventor, armed with both a potentially powerful product and the lessons of a past mistake, now sits on the cusp of a big-time breakthrough. Still, risk cuts into the opportunity.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • January 27, 2012
A Dry Idea

The entrepreneurial culture of 3M Corp. lives on through its retirees. Paul Johansen is an alumnus of that corporation and he hasn't let retirement get in the way of creating a new product.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 20, 2012
Staffing Opportunity

Staffing firms saw increased demand during the downturn. Two Tampa business leaders foresee the trend continuing.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 13, 2012
Seal of Approval

Ed Marchiselli followed the old adage about starting a company during a downturn. His firm, AskTheSeal.com, is planning an aggressive Florida and nationwide expansion during the next two years.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Alex Walsh
  • January 1, 2012
Plan and Attack

After selling out the Towers of Channelside, Cheryl McCormick Brown and Steve McAuliffe created their own business.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • January 1, 2012
Flood Trapper

Floods in the Midwest this summer gave Everett “Buzz” Waid's the boost he needed to propel his flood-barrier business. It could be another big year for TrapBag.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • January 1, 2012
Move the Furniture

Larry Norris says customers are buying more furniture today than they did during the downturn, in some cases furnishing entire homes instead of just one room.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • December 16, 2011
Water Cleaner

A couple of entrepreneurs say an exotic plant called the water hyacinth could alleviate pollution in Florida's rivers and canals. And, they can make money doing it.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 9, 2011
Pump Up

Strong College Students, a Tampa-based moving company, has hit record revenue figures and plans to branch out into franchising.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • December 2, 2011
Call the Nurse

Caring for a loved one drove a mother-and-son team to build a successful business around nursing.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 2, 2011
A New World

An entrepreneur who built a $200 million business has started over in a different industry. It's a gamble that could test his patience — and his wallet.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 2, 2011
Transatlantic Triumph

The recession is all about perspective, say a pair of British siblings who recently moved to the Gulf Coast. Now they aim to make a go of American entrepreneurialism.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 25, 2011
Tour Time

A golfer who discovered his entrepreneurial swing, mostly by accident, now hopes to prove his business acumen. His sport will be the driving force.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • November 25, 2011
Queen of Style

Marina Zelner says department stores and many boutiques ignore the full-figured women's fashion market. She is seizing the opportunity.

  • Entrepreneurs
« 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 »
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 30, 2026
First Watch terminates COO amid restructuring
2
  • March 30, 2026
Sarasota printing company merges with print, mail business
3
  • March 30, 2026
Tampa health tech company hires new CEO
4
  • March 30, 2026
Collier affordable housing nonprofit launching portal to ease searches
5
  • March 27, 2026
Property owner proposes 46 townhomes to replace Sarasota bowling alley

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