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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 15, 2004
Perils of Efficiency

Tampa lawyer Michael J. Echevarria has streamlined the mortgage foreclosure process. In business, he would be hailed. Not so in law.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • January 17, 2025
Citrus industry withers as Florida's groves flounder

Despite the best efforts and hopes of the citrus industry, hurricanes and a bacteria continue to batter Florida's diminished defining crop. Yet some survival strategies are beginning to sprout.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • November 10, 2022
Boat lift maker, sailing school on the mend after Ian

IMM Quality Boat Lifts and Offshore Sailing School are just two of Hurricane Ian’s marine industry victims. But their experiences before, during and after the storm come with valuable lessons.

  • Travel-Tourism
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 11, 2006
Cultivate Friends Not the Business

Trudi Williams started her engineering firm out of her home in 1989. Today, TKW Consulting Engineers is on track to generate $8 million in revenues.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • March 24, 2006
Luxury by Lutgert

A development firm founded by Raymond Lutgert in the 1960s has quietly been amassing a real estate empire. With more than 50 companies, the firm is now heading north to Sarasota.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 19, 2003
Banker of the Year: Jerry Williams

President and CEO Orion BancorpYes, Jerry Williams is a confident guy. Why wouldn't he be?Williams, 42, owns controlling interest in an $829 million bank holding company, Orion Bancorp.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 25, 2004
Making the Big Pitch

St. Petersburg-based The Beckett Whitney Group made a bid to buy the Bradenton City Centre for redevelopment as a high-profile retail and condominium project.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • March 25, 2021
The bill that can save Florida’s economy

Rising property insurance rates are on the verge of popping Florida’s housing bubble and the economy — all because of lawsuits. SB 76 can save the state.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • April 3, 2023
Tampa Bay socioeconomic snapshot: Not bad — but lots of room to get better

For the sixth consecutive year, the Tampa Bay Partnership’s 2023 Regional Competitiveness Report has spelled out, in painstaking detail, the region’s highs and lows.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • December 5, 2003
Biolife LLC (Innovation Awards)

A revolutionary product that instantly stops bleeding is just what the doctor ordered. It's only one of the innovative aspects of this Sarasota company.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Rod Thomson |
  • February 3, 2012
Scott Stays on Track

Despite surprising decisions to spend more money on education and Everglades restoration, Gov. Rick Scott is sticking to his principles of shrinking government and growing the economy.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 30, 2004
Four vying for Judge Rapkin's circuit seat

GCBR looks at the judicial candidates competing for the 12th Circuit Court judicial seat.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Amanda Postma |
  • December 2, 2022
Longtime physician solves disconnect in health care sector with digital platform

The platform HealthMe received $1.25 million in seed funding last year.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 3, 2003
Q&A with Steve Queior

The incoming president of the Greater Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce shares his early impressions and vision for the county.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By John Haughey |
  • January 6, 2022
Legislative preview: liens, bonds and corporate taxes among many issues

State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, maintains his status as one of the more prolific legislators for filing proposed bills.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • August 5, 2020
Luxury Realtor experiences major successes despite pandemic

With luxury buyers seeking tangible assets during uncertain times, Sarasota Realtor Kim Ogilvie recently put $30 million in real estate under contract in 30 days.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • December 13, 2019
Former district manager brings leadership lessons to franchises

Rich Epps owns seven Batteries Plus Bulbs stores in Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Largo and Tampa.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • August 9, 2019
Physician aims to link artificial intelligence with medical practices

HealthLynked is first and foremost a technology company with an emphasis on health care by linking patients with providers on multiple levels through a cloud-based software platform.

  • Health Care
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • January 11, 2019
In quest for creative outlet, financial industry executive turns to wreaths

Penny Parks deals with numbers all day. Searching for a creative hobby, she started making wreaths. She hasn’t looked back.

  • Executive Diversions
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • October 4, 2019
After area plays host to two film shoots, officials hope to woo more movies to town

The Tampa Bay area provided locations for two recent Hallmark Channel film shoots.

  • Strategies
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