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Entrepreneurs

    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 16, 2008
Elephant in the room

The winter tourism season was looking OK until the financialturmoil became a most unwelcome guest. The Super Bowl in Tampa may help take the edge off.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 16, 2008
Hard Road

Chuck O'Neill has made inroads with Avalon Healthcare, but has a tough road to travel against industry health insurance giants.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 16, 2008
Dear Diary

The 2008 journal entry for one ofthe largest insurance firms on the Gulf Coast is all about survival. Revival could be on the horizon by 2010.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 16, 2008
Surprise!

Insurance premiums for commercial buildings havebeen falling as competition increases in Florida. It's a good lesson in free markets for regulation-happy legislators.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
Restaurant Risk

A retired hospitality industry executive knows he should know better than to open a restaurant during a severe industry slump. But the chanceto do it with his sons was too good to pass up.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
Let's Get Personal

A for-profit company that helps nonprofits raise money is sure to be challenged by the current economic climate. Utilizing a new Internet marketing technique is a big help.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
Brave Builder

It takes a brave man to become president of the Florida Home Builders Association this year. There aren't any signs of improvement for 2009, yet Punta Gorda builder Jay Carlson says now's the best opportunity to push for lower taxes and fewer regulations.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
School's In

Competing against the $33.5 billion Florida public schools system is a Herculean task. One national charter school company is doing some heavy lifting on the Gulf Coast.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
Economic Booster

Rod Casto works to attract startup and veteran companies to an officeand research park at the University of South Florida. It may be the most effective way to boost economic development in a downturn.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
College Crush

Bachelors' degrees were once the province of universities. But that's changing ascommunity colleges start offering them, prompting questions about their mission.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
Real World Dreams

Engineering professor Stephen Sundarrao works with USFstudents to develop and patent stronger, better products for people with disabilities. Solving real problems is the key.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
Transition Time

Dave Cole leads the North American division for a company in Pinellas Park that makes coatings for eyeglass lensesthat transform them from clear to shaded in the sun.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2008
In Search of Angels

Entrepreneur Pam Kauten is taking the helm of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, and focusing on finding angel investors.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 2, 2008
Saving the Jewels

Henricks Jewelers filed for bankruptcy reorganization in November.Despite intense pressures to liquidate the firm, its owners refused to walk away and emerged with a new plan this summer. It's a lesson in self-preservation.

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • October 2, 2008
Two Cultures

Robert Banker is leading a group of trial attorneys away from the Fowler White law firm because of a difference in corporate cultures.

  • Entrepreneurs
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