• 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
  • August 6, 2010
Built on a Hunch

Jay and Susan Weiss made plenty of mistakes when they launched their natural-products business for pets. But the entrepreneurial couple never gave up, even when corporate calamity nearly put them out of business.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 6, 2010
Keep the Cool

Not even a highly successful, specialized medical technology company on the Gulf Coast has been spared from some recession woes. A new top executive hopes some transformative moves will pay off.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 30, 2010
Contrary Moves

Rob Smithson redefined his personal fight against the recession through a serious of calculated, expensive, risks. Some of the gambles have started to pay off.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • July 23, 2010
PBYes

Susan Howarth, the new president and CEO of WEDU, wants to open the way for more organizations to put programs on its various channels, including online. More opportunities for corporate support could result.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 16, 2010
A New Approach

The pawn industry is enjoying some good times. One risk-taking Gulf Coast entrepreneur hopes to cash in.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 16, 2010
Storage Test

Steve Wilson looked outside his own business for a recession fix. He hopes he found one in a high-risk venture.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 9, 2010
Protection Niche

A Gulf Coast entrepreneur has turned his fear of an intrusive government into a successful business.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 2, 2010
40 UNDER 40 WINNER: The Kids Are All Right

With $50.1 million in 2009 revenues, Willis A. Smith is built around a workforce of people in their late 20s and early 30s.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • July 1, 2010
Beyond Numbers

40 UNDER 40 WINNER: Meredith Zdon, 34, St. Petersburg

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • July 1, 2010
Stepping Up

40 UNDER 40 WINNER: Andrew Wright, 29, Tampa

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 1, 2010
Meet the Morgans

40 UNDER 40 WINNER: Frank Morgan, 34, Michele Morgan, 39, Bradenton

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • July 1, 2010
Paying Forward

40 UNDER 40 WINNER: Dave Harper, 39, Tampa

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • July 1, 2010
An eye for business

40 UNDER 40 WINNER: Farrell Tyson, 39, Cape Coral

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 1, 2010
A Risky Paint

40 UNDER 40 WINNER: Kevin Hanley, 37, Sarasota

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • July 1, 2010
Impact on education

40 UNDER 40 WINNER: Adam Hall, 34, Fort Myers

  • Entrepreneurs
« 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 »
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