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Industries

  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 22, 2008
Patient Place

Billy Springer thought his latest project would be a fitting end to a distinguished career. But it's the delays that have been endless so far.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 22, 2008
Gulf Coast Week

Judge supports St. Joe's: St. Joseph's Hospital remains alive in the competition to build a hospital in the growing south shore area of southern Hillsborough County.Council delays brewery: Joe Redner, Tampa's famous strip club owner and continual political candidate, wants to try another business venture: brewing beer.St. Pete loses air carrier: High fuel prices have claimed another victim: USA 3000, the second-busiest carrier at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.Infrastructure spending: Sarasota County commissioners approved $14 million in infrastructure spending earlier this month, the first approvals since county voters approved an increase to the county's bond borrowing capabilities in a May 6 referendum.Arts Day canceled: Arts Day, an annual event held in downtown Sarasota to showcase the region's artists, musicians and performers, has been canceled for 2009Mercier exits commission: Paul Mercier, who has been considered by some to be one the most pro-development members of the Sarasota County commission during the past eight years, has decided not to run for a third termLee approves bond sale: The Lee County Commission approved the issuance of $63 million in private-activity bonds to finance Pacific Retirement Services' acquisition of Cypress Cove at HealthParkNew flood maps for Lee: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released the final flood-insurance maps for Lee County.New Le

  • Finance
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 22, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

GLL Partners buys Naples PromenadeNew York investment firm buys Laguna Bay unitsPunta Gorda company buys Wal-Mart storeBOOKS-A-MILLION SET FOR MERCATO IN NAPLESPreston family sells 46 acres for SevenShoresTJM Properties acquires Bradenton OaksWal-Mart Stores plans to expand Cattlemen storeEola Capital closes on Westshore landGoodwill Industries-Suncoast buys ex-motel, vacant landInternational firm Praxair buys Tampa warehouse

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
TO WATCH (Sarasota-Bradenton): Chad Roffers

Sensing a bubble burst was a-brewing, Chad Roffers left his lucrative executive job in the technology industry in 2000. He moved from San Francisco to Sarasota with his wife and decided to seek a new career. He settled on real estate, naturally, he says with a chuckle, knowing he was entering the biggest of bubble-bursting industries.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
TO WATCH (Sarasota-Bradenton): Joe Gonzalez

But long before that triumph, Gonzalez was a true New York City success story. The son of a Cuban immigrant and the grandson of an East Village bar owner, Gonzalez had grown up relatively poor in the Big Three of New York's notoriously tough neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan, Washington Heights in the South Bronx and Jamaica, Queens.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
Gulf Coast Week

Tampa water vision: Tampa's growth northward and increasing demand for water has city leaders thinking about using reclaimed waterApartment tower proposed: Although the condominium market has taken a hit, Crosland, a Charlotte, N.C. developer, thinks a 26-story apartment tower can work in downtown Tampa.Rail supporters fight on: A $649 million deal with CSX Transportation to create a commuter rail network in Florida has collapseProject delayed again: More than 25 acres of undeveloped waterfront property in downtown Bradenton is undergoing a foreclosure sale later this month, the latest problems facing what was supposed to be a mixed-use project with the potential to reshape the cityMills sells insurance firm: Former Sarasota County Commissioner David Mills sold his independent locally based insurance brokerage to Insurance & Benefits Consultants, a subsidiary of a publicly traded Southfield, Mich.-based firm.Project expansion denied: Citing congestion concerns, Sarasota County Commissioners voted down a major expansion for Thomas Ranch, a large-scale mixed-use project in the southern edge of the county.Naples mandates recycling: The Naples City Council on May 7 voted to require businesses to recycle. The vote was 6-to-1 in favor, with Teresa Heitmann dissenting.Business program incubating: Economic development groups from Sarasota, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier counties are working to create a small-business

  • Finance
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Sarasota-Bradenton: JIM ABRAMS

Jim Abrams is a sought-after executive to almost celebrity-like status. It's easy to see why.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
TO WATCH (Tampa Bay): Joy Gendusa

Being a good parent is what motivated Joy Gendusa to eventually become a successful entrepreneur.Gendusa, 43, a New York native, worked a number of jobs, including selling vacation packages at night and doing typesetting, earning $8 to $12 an hour.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
ENTREPRENEUER OF THE YEAR OVERALL WINNER: BARRY SHEVLIN

Barry Shevlin has $500 million dreams for his company, already a big success that started off with a $3,000 loan.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Lee/Collier: REINHOLD SCHMIEDING

Few people have heard of Reinhold Schmieding, but the reclusive Naples entrepreneur has quietly built one of the world's leading medical-device manufacturing companies.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Tampa Bay: RICHARD SANCHEZ

Richard Sanchez retired from Exxon but came back to start Advantica EyeCare. 'Our mission is saving sight. It's real simple.'

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
TO WATCH (Sarasota-Bradenton): Sean Murphy

Sean Murphy, founder of a Bradenton-based fence company with 12 offices in four states, spends most of his working days in constant motion, a cross between a hands-on problem solver and a big-picture visionary.He's been known to get in his truck and drive to a company facility in Charlotte, N.C. or suburban Nashville, Tenn. to handle a customer situation. But he's also been to known to come up with ideas that can turn into company revenue-boosters.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
TO WATCH (Sarasota-Bradenton): Art Lambert and Ron Simkins

The corporate atmosphere at LexJet, a Sarasota-based digital printing and software sales and marketing firm is anything but corporate. Employees wear flip-flops and T-shirts to work, flip Frisbees over cubicles and can be seen lounging on a couch near the lobby watching sports highlights on TV. But this isn't a case of employees waiting until the boss leaves to slack off.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
TO WATCH (Lee-Collier): George Ghanem

George Ghanem's party palace is almost ready. By this summer, Ghanem's company will have moved into its new corporate headquarters in Fort Myers. The 60,000-square-foot, $8-million building will house the company's commercial laundry, a showroom and will have enough parking so that employees can load 10 delivery trucks at a time with tents, chairs and all the equipment for a party.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2008
TO WATCH (Lee-Collier): Arthur Allen

In the early days, Arthur Allen built his business on his house. In 1981, Allen sold his first software company for $18 million. He retired to Naples at age 34 and bought an oceanfront house on Gulf Shore Boulevard.

  • Entrepreneurs
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