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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • June 19, 2024
Resilient bar owner celebrates 25 years of success — and grit

Two-plus decades running bars and nightclubs have taught Joanna Olsen a lot about resilience and persistence. “Never quit," she says. "Just get back in there and conquer."

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • September 19, 2024
31-story Tampa high-rise aims to connect cultural, social institutions

Developers of the just-completed AER building see the property as a hub to the creative and lifestyle features urban dwellers seek.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • September 24, 2024
Fort Myers Beach mayor says change is inevitable but balance possible

Hurricane Ian was devastating, but Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers has also seen the town's resilience, remaining true to the island's spirit.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • September 17, 2025
Tampa universities name sports leaders amid national disruption

University of South Florida and University of Tampa have confidence Rob Higgins and E.J. Brophy, respectively, will stack up the wins — even amid the uncertainty of big-money college athletics.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Amanda Postma |
  • August 30, 2022
Airport executives race to keep up with post-pandemic travel demand

Amid construction at RSW and SRQ, execs navigate rising material costs and a shortage of workers in expectation of handling the rush of passengers better.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • August 28, 2025
Immigration program provides $47M toward Bradenton apartments

EB-5 has been targeted by the Trump administration. But for now, the sometimes-complicated federal foreign investor program is helping to fund an apartment community being built on the site of DeSoto Square Mall.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 14, 2008
Against the flow

Building a residential real estate brokerage firm in this economic environment isnot for the faint of heart. But Art Darmanin is confident the market will come back.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 14, 2008
State of Selling

Building a residential real estate brokerage firm in this economic environment isnot for the faint of heart. But Art Darmanin is confident the market will come back.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 9, 2008
Thomson: Comment

A former FDIC chairman who now lives on the Gulf Coast has been instrumental in leading the charge against the bailout. He has an alternative.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • April 10, 2009
The next shoe

Commercial real estate lending is the bread-and-butter-business of community banking on the Gulf Coast. With vacancies rising, could this sector overwhelm banks with bad loans?

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Janet Leiser |
  • July 19, 2013
Betting on Bob

Outback Steakhouse's story is legendary in Tampa: Three friends, with a hunger for success and loans from relatives, grew one restaurant into a multibillion-dollar company. Will one of the founders work his magic again?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Brady |
  • August 10, 2011
Contracting with Seminole Nation

Though it's a sovereign government, contracting with The Seminole Tribe of Florida doesn't require 'an Act of Congress' — in fact, it's a straightforward process.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 24, 2017
Gobble, Gobble

Turkeys delivered by FedEx? Poultry sell-outs in 45 minutes? What in the world of Florida farming is going on? Some of the state's turkey farmers — a rare breed — have carved out a niche.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • February 13, 2015
Natural beauty

Alikay Naturals beauty products can be found in Target and Sally Beauty Supply stores. Entrepreneur Rochelle Graham built the business without outside investors or loans.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • July 17, 2025
Insider: Elimination of solar tax credits will lead to job losses, price increases

Tampa Bay Solar owner Steve Rutherford of discusses the ramifications of changes included in the "Big Beautiful Bill."

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Amanda Postma |
  • August 29, 2022
Entrepreneur set on making a difference in housing industry

When Mark Vengroff's father asked him to take over managing One Stop Housing, he was reluctant. Now, there's nothing he'd rather be doing.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 26, 2007
Two for Three

A former ER doctor turned entrepreneur strives to be really great at two parts of his medical imaging business while still being decent at the third. The formula is working.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 19, 2004
It's Not About Talent

The founder of Chuck E. Cheese says entrepreneurs are successful not because of high IQs. It's all about passion and drive.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • April 7, 2006
'I Love Fear'

Pam Kauten has succeeded selling uniforms, radio ads and cosmetics by balancing the line of aggressive and friendly. Her latest venture is online job ads.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • April 8, 2005
Southern Discomfort

A Tampa bank works to get back in the good graces of regulators.

  • Entrepreneurs
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