Executive Diversions

Jim Stinson
January 10, 2024

Bank president accomplishes life goal: Learning to fly planes

Brandon Box gets away from it all by heading into the clouds.

Charlotte–Lee–Collier

Mark Gordon
January 9, 2024

CEO steps out of her comfort zone in teaching aerobics

Heather Plampin, the president and CEO of vacation rental company The Cottages on the Key, gets her non-work kicks out of teaching an intense group fitness class.

Manatee-Sarasota

Brian Hartz
January 9, 2024

Ad agency CEO says running makes her a better, more confident leader

Advertising executive Christine Turner started running in college to relieve stress. Now she’s conquering racecourses across the country, including mountainous trail runs.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

Jim Stinson
January 8, 2024

Commercial real estate exec doubles as 7-time perfect game bowler

Tampa Bay real estate VP Melissa Riccardi gets away from it all by rolling strikes.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

Brian Hartz
January 8, 2024

Condo developer keeps the beat playing drums in a rock band

For St. Petersburg real estate developer Fred Hemmer, age is just a number as he pursues his rock ’n’ roll fantasies behind a drum kit.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

Mark Gordon
October 30, 2023

Wanted: Your coolest hobbies, pastimes and diversions

Be a part of the Business Observer's DIversions issue.

Florida

By Brian Hartz
January 12, 2023

Naples attorney embraces nation's fastest-growing sport

Largely self-taught, Jim Nici has won a slew of medals at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships.

Executive Diversions

By Louis Llovio
January 12, 2023

Medicine man by day, rockstar by night

Dr. Patrick Hwu runs the Moffitt Cancer Center as he continues to practice medicine and study immunotherapy treatments. Oh, and he plays a mean keyboard in a rock and roll band, too.