• 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
  • May 28, 2010
Break the Chain

As if the recession wasn't tough enough, Gulf Coast manufacturing executive Daniel Judge has spent the past few years dealing with gang members in the workforce — willingly.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 28, 2010
The perfect fit

Who says retail is in the dumps? Aqua Beachwear is expanding in Florida and Arizona.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 21, 2010
Risk Brothers

Quadrupling the size of a company's workspace while knee-deep in a recession might sound crazy. But to entrepreneur Leo Riza, it's the natural next step — he hopes.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • May 21, 2010
Clutter Breakthrough

Spark founder Michael Peters still embraces the constant challenges of client demand. Quicker computers and smarter phones are part of the next frontier.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • May 21, 2010
Solo Relations

Rising health insurance costs and increased competition are two obstacles that can make a solo marketing career more challenging. But an economic rebound could help overcome those obstacles.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 14, 2010
Serious Action

John Lemp built a $120 million company in eight years — in a place not exactly known for technology gazelles. Despite the doubters, he predicts much more growth to come.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 14, 2010
A Big Net

Jesse Biter, founder of a $16 million auto industry software firm, finds motivation in going after his market's biggest clients. His refusal to accept rejection is a big ally.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
  • For Subscribers Only
    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
« 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 »
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