• 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
  • January 22, 2010
1-800 Niche Filled

A Gulf Coast entrepreneur is on a mission to show fellow entrepreneurs the power of the toll-free vanity phone number.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • January 7, 2010
CEO Fitness: Ironman Thriller

Jack Voth, co-owner of an information technology company in Bonita Springs called The Client Server, completed the Ironman championship in Kona, Hawaii in October. The grueling race includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • January 7, 2010
Claw from boredom

An Italian hairdresser in Fort Myers got tired of cutting hair the old-fashioned way and invented a new tool that has been well-received by the pros.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 7, 2010
A Sales Hug

An Amish furniture entrepreneur hopes he has the solution to flat sales. He is using a unique approach to marketing based on passion.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 7, 2010
Still Going

Ken Sanborn is fulfilling his insatiable need to build businesses with four startups. They all revolve around his passions of filming and flying.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 24, 2009
Patience and Hope

Barney Guarino has spent close to one-third of his business life on one major project with scant payoff. Still, he holds big shares in hope.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 18, 2009
Sweet Survival

An $800,000 investment in a frozen dessert business nearly turned sour when the lead entrepreneur suffered a few major setbacks. The comeback, however, is already underway.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Alex Walsh
  • December 18, 2009
Fight On

Entrepreneurs know the path to small business success is never linear. It has been true for Michael Westafer, who rebounded from a frightening start to the year to double his company's revenue in 2009.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 4, 2009
Kickin' It

The ability to earn a black belt in taekwondo can help an entrepreneur battle through just about any business issue — recession included. Here's how one group of local executives does it.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 4, 2009
Necklace Niche

Kim Martinez leveraged everything she owned to sustain her $2 million business through the recession. With the worst part behind her — she hopes — Martinez is planning to double sales next year.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • December 4, 2009
The Turning Tide?

A majority of residents and business people rejected the concept of requiring business owners to replace any greenspace they cover. Could this be the beginning of the end of anti-business attitudes in Gulf Coast communities?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 25, 2009
Bang the Rum

An accomplished executive has pumped nearly $1 million into a quenching entrepreneurial venture since leaving the corporate world. Now he's on the cusp of a recession-laden risk: Will he find customers?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 25, 2009
Young at Heart

Nicci Kobritz began reforming her own health care business long before the industry became a political powder keg. The result is a $4 million company that has grown revenues almost 60% during the recession.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • November 25, 2009
Kingpin

Patrick Ciniello polished bowling balls as a boy in exchange for free games. Today, he runs one of the biggest bowling-equipment companies in the world.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • November 19, 2009
Want to buy a bridge?

Researchers at the University of Maine figured a new way to build a longer lasting, easy-to-assemble bridge for the U.S. Army. Now, a Bonita Springs-based company plans to sell it to states and municipalities.

  • Entrepreneurs
« 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 »
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