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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Carl Cronan
  • June 11, 2010
Magnetic Attraction

Allen Braswell returns to his hometown of Clearwater to establish an eastern presence for his company, Pico-Tesla. Its mission is helping Parkinson's patients through electromagnetic therapy.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • June 11, 2010
Cable Guys

Two entrepreneurs are betting they can beat giant Comcast by delivering cable services to residential developments. They're borrowing a page from the telecom playbook.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • June 4, 2010
King of the Cape

You have to be nimble and aggressive to master Cape Coral's wild swings in property prices. John Carney has mastered the crazy market.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • June 4, 2010
Retail gourmet

Innovative Food Holdings has been supplying restaurant chefs with luxury gourmet delicacies. Now, the company is hoping to bring more than 3,000 specialty foods to the public.

  • 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
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