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Entrepreneurs

    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 14, 2010
Brain Booster

Nicci Kobritz is at an entrepreneurial crossroads. The challenge: to grow her company without weakening its strengths.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 14, 2010
Brothers in arms

Nelson and Verne Nieves outbid better-established firms by relentlessly controlling expenses. Now that they have a track record, they're poised to take more business.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 14, 2010
Target: Profit

It's costly to build a bank from scratch, but Joseph Catti plans to turn three-year-old Finemark National Bank & Trust profitable this year. Geographic and product diversification should help.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 14, 2010
Big Title

There are more than 400 cities, towns and villages in Florida and Brooke Mitchell ferrets out lien information from any of them. Little wonder her business, Property Debt Research, is growing so fast.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • May 14, 2010
Hairless Growth

Laser-wielding Ideal Image has doubled sales by bringing franchise locations in house. A new generation of demanding customers could be the key to continued expansion.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • May 14, 2010
A Bead of Profitability

Largo-based Cousin Corp. of America started as a bead shop and has grown in 40 years to a distributor to big-name retailers. Warm weather made the difference in basing the business here.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • May 14, 2010
Feed the Giants

Greg Murtagh is commanding attention from major retailers as Triad Digital Media moves into a new phase of growth. It all started with a presentation to the folks from Fayetteville.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • May 14, 2010
Blinks and Bites

Richard Sanchez, the 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year, has found a way for Advantica to expand from purely vision services to offer dental coverage. The two tie together nicely.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 14, 2010
La Isla del Encanto

Fort Myers isn't exactly fashion central, so celebrity jewelry designer Erika Peña moved to Puerto Rico, where she plans to open her own stores. She hopes the island lives up to its slogan: the Enchanted Island.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 14, 2010
Hanging Tough

The painful back injuries Wayne Ruben suffered after he was named the Review's top entrepreneur turned out to be the least of his troubles. The real estate bust brought more aches.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • May 7, 2010
Turning Pages

Shawna Vercher is opening new doors for book writers to get their works before readers' eyes. The story of a disgraced NBA ref provided the first big bounce.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 7, 2010
Recession Cushion

The furniture industry, no surprise, is hurting. But at least one Gulf Coast entrepreneur has found a way to thrive in the industry despite the dire circumstances.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • April 30, 2010
Kick the Glass

The recession is a daily do or die battle for many Gulf Coast business owners. That's just fine for entrepreneur Steve Schwartz, who actually used to fight for a living.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • April 30, 2010
Unlocking Potential

Gilles Arditi, a 20-year veteran of the hotel industry, started Southwind Hospitality as a way to help owners and mortgage holders turn properties around. One solution: Half-hour housekeeping.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • April 30, 2010
Next-Gen Goals

Brian Boyer and Travis Norris practically grew up with DataComm Networks. Now, as owners the last two years, they want to take the IT firm to new heights while retaining top employees through generous benefits.

  • Entrepreneurs
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