• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Leadership

    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • June 22, 2023
Billionaire developer reveals secrets to his never-be-satisfied, rags-to-riches life

John Catsimatidis says he’s never satisfied with success. "Every time I climb a mountain, I see another one I want to climb."

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 31, 2023
Beekeeper’s secrets turn into essential leadership lessons

A new leadership fable tells what feels like a real-life tale of a CEO grappling with a rapid growth conundrum. The answers, it turns out, start in the center of a beehive.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Business Observer Staff
  • May 23, 2023
Columbia owner talks overcoming debt, resilience in commencement speech

Richard Gonzmart encourages graduates to remain steadfast when facing hurdles. "I have a gift. I think differently. If someone says something can’t be done, I say, 'watch me.'"

  • Entrepreneurs
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 17, 2023
Hospital CEO leads through vulnerability and kindness — and it works

Vulnerability and kindness aren’t necessarily top of mind traits, traditionally, for leaders of $1.57 billion organizations. One CEO argues they should be.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 3, 2023
7 principles to being a leader: Start with better breathing

Susan Freeman’s advice for those who seek a new path to become better leaders requires an open-your-mind (and body) spirit.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • April 28, 2023
Daughter’s drug overdose fuels insurance exec’s new life mission

Michael Ortoll scaled the peaks of the insurance industry for 30 years. But the challenge that brought him to his knees didn’t come from work.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • April 25, 2023
Family business executive navigates major career change

With a background in finance and education, Kelly Hendry never expected to take over her father’s dredging and ship-repair company. Yet she’s risen to the challenge with bold and fresh ideas.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • April 18, 2023
Exit interview: Inaugural St. Pete EDC head reflects on tenure

As he prepares to bid farewell to the agency he helped create, J.P. DuBuque leaves behind a legacy of business recruitment and job creation success that will be difficult to match.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • April 7, 2023
Leadership retreat exec’s guide to building a business that’s ‘well done’

Ken Gosnell translates Sunday school soliloquies into a series of guidelines on running — and growing — a high-standards, high-performance business.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 15, 2023
Award-winning Publix managers reveal leadership secrets

Running a Publix, or even overseeing a dozen Publix locations, is more than apples and oranges. The people side, with listening skills at the front of the line, requires a lot of attention, too.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 2, 2023
Pittsburgh Pirates GM talks leadership, trust, culture — and replacing a legend

Creating a stellar corporate culture is a must-do in today’s work environment. Pro sports executive Ben Cherington says he’s learned that to deliver the best culture, you have to first have the best people.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 15, 2023
OfficeMax founder: From childhood poverty to building a $5B business

Witty sayings? Check. Gutty business experiences turned into integral lessons learned? Check. Starting a $5 billion company from an idea and $20,000? Check. OfficeMax founder Michael Feuer has it all.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Amanda Postma
  • February 3, 2023
Sarasota sports pro returns to promote his latest endeavor

When Mark Neifeld realized there wasn't a big league for the sport of fishing, he accepted it as a challenge. After two years, the Sport Fishing Championship has 15 events to its name.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 30, 2023
Tampa energy exec on getting to the top: There’s ‘no easy ride’

A reflective look back at her career leads energy executive Helen Wesley to some crucial truths. Among them humility and hustle are always will never turn to fossils.

  • Leadership
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 20, 2023
Surprising gold medal rowing team teaches valuable leadership lesson

A musician and film producer-turned-entrepreneur coach and consultant breaks down leadership into an essential question: Will this task make you better?

  • Leadership
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »
The best of Business Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest business and commecial real estate news from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
  • December 4, 2025
450-unit Nokomis apartment complex opens near Legacy Trail
2
  • December 4, 2025
Developer proposes Tampa's tallest building: 70 stories at $650 million
3
  • December 4, 2025
Airline adds flight from Fort Myers to upstate New York
4
  • December 4, 2025
50-year-old Tampa education-tech firm receives $350M investment
5
  • December 3, 2025
'Distressed' Tampa office building sells for $40M in short sale

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Podcast
  • Big Book of Business

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Distribution Points
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Your Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
×
3 Articles Remaining!
Not a Subscriber?

Click here to Subscribe

Already a Subscriber?

Click here to Login

Sign Up for Daily Brief

Start your day with the top Gulf Coast business news you need to succeed.

Sign Up for CRE Central

Stay updated with a weekly roundup of big deals, market shifts and the people shaping commercial real estate from Tampa Bay to Naples.


Smart People Subscribe.

Turn headlines into game plans. The playbook’s right here.
Subscribe to the Business Observer today.

Subscribe Now