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Strategies

    By
  • Alex Walsh
  • September 24, 2009
One Healthy Company

In its first year, Freedom Health brought in less than $2 million in revenue. Four years later, they'll make more than $300 million. And they're still growing.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • September 24, 2009
Pools of Profit

The pool supply business would seemingly be crushed by the recession. But one Gulf Coast entrepreneur has risen above the rubble.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 22, 2009
Colony suspends hotel operations

The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort is closing hotel operations until further notice, while it attempts to reach an agreement with its association.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Alex Walsh
  • September 17, 2009
Closing the Gap

More access to capital is on its way to Southwest Florida start-up companies through a new angel fund.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • September 17, 2009
Shirt Equity

A Gulf Coast T-shirt company is surpassing $2 million in sales this year, a notable feat considering the recession slamming retail. Its success is based on a combination of grit, good decision-making and learning from mistakes.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Bob Andelman
  • September 3, 2009
A Million Bites

Brown & Brown has grown into a major player in the insurance brokerage business through 300 small acquisitions. The key: Create a competitive and lucrative sales culture and cut all fat.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Bloomberg News
  • September 3, 2009
Marvel Us

Analysis: Disney's Marvel buy traps Hollywood in a Spider-Man web, putting Disney in a long-term strong position against its rivals.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • September 3, 2009
Help Desk Help

A $250 million company with a large Gulf Coast presence is reversing a trend: It's making room for local jobs that were once outsourced overseas.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Bob Andelman
  • August 27, 2009
Quick Jabs

A $12.8 billion Gulf Coast technology firm is attacking the recession, on both domestic and foreign soil, through a nimble yet risk-laden approach. One gamble: It's going full throttle into the cell phone industry.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 27, 2009
Nine Lives

The recession is pervasive up and down the Gulf Coast, but a few companies have found ways to grow at skyrocketing rates. Nearly 10 such local businesses made a national best-of list.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • August 20, 2009
'Rocket Pockets'

Will Stout hasn't built any significant developments since 2007. But the Cape Coral developer expects there will be more opportunities in the next five years than any in the last five decades.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 13, 2009
Survive and Thrive

Gulf Coast fast-food restaurant owner Jonathan Ith isn't about to back down from a minor roadblock like a recession. He spent most of his youth, after all, in a life-and-death survival mode while growing up in the killing fields of Cambodia.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 13, 2009
Take Back

Lou Oberndorf won a long-fought gamble to buy back the medical education company he co-founded, putting up at least $10 million of his money in the process. His new quest: To beat the recession by blunt force.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Jean Gruss
  • August 13, 2009
The Italian Niche

A group of German investors plans to grow an Italian restaurant franchise called Vapiano to as many as 10 Florida locations. Already popular in Europe, Vapiano occupies a niche between fast food and upscale dining.

  • Strategies
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 13, 2009
Puttin' on the Sales

A Gulf Coast hotel hit by the recession blanketed half the region in an all out sales surge. Results have been surprisingly good.

  • Strategies
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