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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • April 22, 2011
Heavenly Hair

When she was just 16, Christa Lemonakis watched her best friend lose all her hair to cancer. She started a company vowing to help cancer patients and others deal with hair loss.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • April 22, 2011
Creating Connections

Jessica Rivelli started Working Women of Tampa Bay as a networking group that has now expanded into a motivational and educational service, as well as a new job for herself.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • April 22, 2011
Diva Sisters

Sisters Shawnda Cook and Shannon Redden plan to open a hair-products store in Lehigh Acres, where the market is growing and competitors are limited. They plan to treat their customers like divas.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • April 15, 2011
Tower Time

David Grain parlayed a devoted data-driven approach to business decisions into some terrific triumphs. He foresees more success soon.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • April 15, 2011
Party On

A pair of entrepreneurs is betting that corporate entertainment is back, and they're launching a big-event catering company to capture the growing market.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • April 1, 2011
Shaped by Recession

Brian Lucas is one of several next-generation executives who will lead their family businesses out of the recession.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • April 1, 2011
Renewed Spirits

There really is life after real estate. One prominent Gulf Coast broker-entrepreneur recently discovered that fact, albeit through a painful process.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 25, 2011
Heavy Metal

The spend-to-grow philosophy resonates with Bill Soucie, a military man-turned entrepreneur. He's betting on a big return with his latest investment.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • March 18, 2011
Peachy Keen

Two budding restaurateurs took over a prominent breakfast-lunch chain on the verge of collapse. It's an oversized gamble.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • March 11, 2011
Biggest winners

Medical providers might learn a few things from the founders of a medical weight-loss clinic franchise who take the Ritz-Carlton approach to helping their patients.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 4, 2011
Surf's Up

The staid plumbing business is about to get a dose of sun and fun. But the entrepreneur behind the concept is in it for more than waves.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 4, 2011
Roll With It

Bob Dean never liked his stockbroker career. But he settled on a business with just as many ups and downs.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • February 25, 2011
Out of sight

Got a great idea? Rush it to market or get ready to spend big bucks to protect yourself from cheap copycats. One Naples couple found that out the hard way.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • February 25, 2011
Home Improvement

As the regional director for 15 Decorating Den Interiors franchisees in South Florida, Cliff Welles gets an inside look at upscale consumers. They're spending again, he reports.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • February 18, 2011
Power Player

John Ramil stays plenty busy these days in leadership positions with TECO Energy and the University of South Florida. He has never avoided challenges, which has led him to where he is today.

  • Entrepreneurs
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