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Entrepreneurs

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 4, 2010
Bonus, Baby

Kristen Horler never thought her burning desire to lose pounds gained in pregnancy would be the ticket to a new business. But it was, and now she has ambitious growth plans.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 29, 2010
'Beacon for Change'

Two entrepreneurs seek to turn one Gulf Coast town into a technology hotspot — heavy on the optimism.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Alex Walsh
  • January 29, 2010
Beyond bean-counting

Not every small business needs a full-time chief financial officer. For those that could use just a little direction, there's Brooke Evans.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 28, 2010
Mold a Winner

Investment banker Jim Westman recently made one of his gutsiest calls: In the throes of the recession he bought a manufacturing company he could call his own.

  • 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
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