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Executive Diversions

    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • May 11, 2025
Trust company exec, cancer survivor relishes global marathon successes

Between surviving cancer and running marathons across the world, it's no wonder Jeff Muddell now says "any challenge in life seems small."

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • January 10, 2025
SWFL nonprofit exec takes center stage with dramatic side gig

Horizon Foundation Executive Director Bill Johnson's advice for people who try acting is wise counsel for anyone, in any endeavor. "Anything is possible," he says. "If you don’t try it, you’ll never know."

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • January 10, 2025
Manufacturing CEO turns flying hobby into a way of life

Flying, for manufacturing CEO Scott Ashton, isn’t merely a way to get from here to there.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • January 10, 2025
PR firm founder 'drops in' to skateboarding hobby

What started as a birthday gift has turned into a unusual after-50 pastime for a PR pro.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • January 10, 2025
Married Tampa execs take on a new challenge together every year

Jessica Muroff and Owen LaFave say dancing, hiking and running deepen bonds, build resiliency and teach how to fail forward.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • January 10, 2025
Restaurateur horses around with rescue animals on his 5-acre farm

Lee Karlins has a lot on his plate but is up with the dawn to care for his critters.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 10, 2025
Sarasota nonprofit CEO on quest to visit every national park across US

Harvest House CEO Erin Minor says seeing one national park made her want to check out them all.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 10, 2025
Adrenaline sport takes luxury homebuilder founder up to 136 mph

Murray Homes President Steve Murray is also an amateur race car driver.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 10, 2025
St. Pete entrepreneur rekindles passion for dancing

Jamie Van Cuyk pushes herself to new heights with her longtime passion.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 10, 2025
EDC president aids community by helping to catch human traffickers

Bill Cronin, a top economic development official by day, uses a particular set of skills he has learned over years to help a team of people hunt down human traffickers.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • January 12, 2024
PR exec climbs Mount Kilimanjaro to teach himself, daughter life lessons

Entrepreneur Preston Rudie climbed one of the tallest mountains in the world to learn he could do less — and that his business would be OK.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • January 12, 2024
Printing entrepreneur's wine pastime leads him to travel the globe

"Life is too short to drink less than good wine," Andrick & Associates President Mark Esbeck says of his longtime pursuit.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 11, 2024
VP seeks adventure outside of Tampa nonprofit

In learning how "the first step is the scariest," National Pediatric Cancer Foundation executive Casey Taylor pushes herself to handle bigger and tougher steps.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • January 11, 2024
Construction CEO's hobby smoking meats becomes company asset

Cooking, grilling and smoking meats is more than dinner for Russell Budd. It has also become a part of the company culture.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 10, 2024
Nonprofit mental health CFO finds escape playing ice hockey

Competition, constant improvement and camaraderie drive Ronne Apicella’s passion for a sport played on something decidedly un-Florida: a sheet of ice.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
1 2 3 4 5 »

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