• 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
  • Carl Cronan
  • June 17, 2011
Two-Sport Star

Local football legend Lee Roy Selmon has found success running a sports restaurant chain during the past decade. He recently opened his seventh location but is taking a conservative approach to further expansion.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 10, 2011
Radio Days

Entrepreneur Phil Grande believes the standard way of investing on Wall Street is a standard for failure. He built a successful business off his way.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 10, 2011
Banker's Wish

The recession-forced shrinkage of the Gulf Coast banking industry pushed many bankers out of work. The solo route was one banker's redemption.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • June 3, 2011
Out of the Trap

Entrepreneurs often have to reinvent themselves and their companies to survive and grow, but Everett 'Buzz' Waid took it a step further by switching to a new industry.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • June 3, 2011
Big Fix

Owners of yachts more than 60 feet long now have to travel to Miami or Fort Lauderdale for maintenance. The Levi family hopes they'll change course for Fort Myers Beach.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • June 3, 2011
Snap to it

Cheryl Bourque knows how to dress up the flip-flop with fun accessories. She's hoping young girls will snap them up.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 27, 2011
No Excuses

Jason Gunter runs his own law firm and still finds time to train for Ironman triathlons, despite the fact that he's a double amputee. His advice to busy CEOs about exercise: You have no excuses.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2011
Back in the Salsa

An entrepreneur with a potentially tasty opportunity is on the hunt for investors.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 20, 2011
Anchors Away

A pair of diligent and persistent business partners with diverse backgrounds dips deep into the maritime industry. It's a risky course.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 20, 2011
The Egg Man

Craig Sweet, a Fort Myers fertility doctor, says there's a business solution to abandoned embryos. He's encouraging their owners to donate them to his company.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 6, 2011
Free Fall

The wild spending ways of the federal government have driven one entrepreneur mad. He hopes for change.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 6, 2011
TV in Paradise

Two former New York City television producers who moved to Naples found a niche in the area's hotels. Paradise Coast TV can now be seen in 5,000 rooms.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 6, 2011
Collared Dreams

A Gulf Coast inventor-entrepreneur wants to shake up an industry — menswear — that has been pretty staid. He dreams big.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • April 29, 2011
Stuck on an Idea

Debra Weisser invented Hem-Eze while looking for a solution to varying pants lengths. After introducing the product on HSN, she's moving into mass marketing with Walgreen's.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • April 29, 2011
Cool Opportunity

Service and repair industry entrepreneur John Barbour delayed growth plans for five years. But the time to grow, Barbour believes, is now.

  • Entrepreneurs
« 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 »
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
2026 top 50 contractors zoom past $10B in annual revenue
2
  • March 30, 2026
Minnesota developer buys Fort Myers mixed-use project site for $20.45M
3
  • March 30, 2026
First Watch terminates COO amid restructuring
4
  • March 30, 2026
Sarasota printing company merges with print, mail business
5
  • March 30, 2026
Tampa health tech company hires new CEO

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