• 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
    • Healthcare
    • 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
    • Healthcare
    • 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

Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 3, 2004
Public Defender No. 1

Forget the hangini rope. Open the book of reason. Meet Elliott Metcalfe Jr.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • May 26, 2022
Power to the people: Businesses must reckon with new workforce realities

The labor market pendulum has swung hard against employers. But it’s not a forever turn. Nimble, forward-thinking companies, beyond pay raises, can adapt and adjust.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 13, 2007
The Three Cs: Communicate Communicate Communicate

One way to boost profit is to communicate more effectively with your employees, says Mark Wiskup, a Tampa-based entrepreneur, consultant and former broadcaster.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 20, 2004
Economic Blessing?

Hurricane Charley may have destroyed or forced the closure of only 1% to 5% of businesses in its path. That's much less than the damage Andrew caused in 1992.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Brady |
  • May 14, 2010
No Harm Done

Despite a contentious final week made more distracting by the oil leak crisis, the Legislature passed a no-new-taxes budget and pro-business bills, but a doubled deficit projected for next year with all new state leadership poses bigger challenges ahead.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • May 31, 2019
'Consultive contracting' builds repeat business

Commercial contractor builds business by advocating for its clients, striving to always do the right thing and instilling a culture of ethics. Returning phone calls doesn’t hurt, either.

  • Construction-Development
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • July 6, 2018
IT powerhouse makes a change at the top

Tech Data CEO Bob Dutkowsky spent years searching for his replacement at the Clearwater-based IT distributor. He found the ideal candidate by looking to his roots at IBM.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • March 7, 2014
Funds for the fight

The fundraising race for the two main Florida gubernatorial candidates has begun, with nearly a combined $20 million raised since October.The who-supports-who list has some surprises.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • January 3, 2025
The Word for 2025: ‘Elon’

Elon Musk is flawed. We all are. Nonetheless, Musk is emblematic of the mood of Americans. He symbolizes the can-do, pioneering spirit that made the United States. Forget the moon; shoot for Mars.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Amanda Postma |
  • May 30, 2023
The Louis Vuitton of real estate, Living Vogue seeks to glam up industry

In four frenzied years, luxury real estate brokerage Living Vogue has added a second location and is now up to 100 agents. "We had confidence in ourselves," the co-founder says.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • March 24, 2023
Publix commits to addressing food insecurity

The Lakeland grocery giant held a hunger summit to work with food banks on how to best get food to those in need — a growing population.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • February 21, 2023
Development group shares lessons learned from Gas Plant loss

Hard work has proven to be its own reward for members of Sugar Hill Community Partners, the group that narrowly missed out on the chance to redevelop St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field site.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Amanda Postma |
  • August 11, 2022
Mobile suit shop plows ahead on brick-and-mortar expansion plans

Tweeds now has four box trucks that travel to clients' homes or offices with custom-made suits in tow.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Heater |
  • November 4, 2022
$30 million rural real estate project with 5-acre sites starts selling lots

A horse-driven entrepreneur looks to connect with the niche equestrian community to boost home site sales.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By None |
  • August 23, 2022
Point/Counterpoint: Will rent control solve housing crisis?

A tenants rights’ advocate argues that landlords have wrongly been granted the high ground in the debate.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • December 29, 2006
Incredible Courting

Five million-dollar waterfront homes aren't so unique these days on the Gulf Coast. But a group of local developers is betting on a project that includes playing golf and tennis on the footsteps of legends.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • January 5, 2007
A Grown Up Cup

Tervis Tumbler, a 60-year-old company once known for its quirky cups, is starting to be known for its annual sales growth. Revenues are up more than 300% over the past decade to $23 million in 2006.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 23, 2007
Control the process

Perks and employee giveaways can be costly. But it's paid off in big ways for the Gulf Coast Sysco operation, which has seen six-fold growth in the past decade.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • December 21, 2007
Business Cheer

Russ Whited has just three weeks to sell thousands of Christmas trees. He's got it down to a science.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 5, 2007
A Piece of the Rock

A small but vocal band of residents in southeast Lee County is threatening Southwest Florida's economy. Who will stand up to them?

  • Entrepreneurs
« 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 »
The best of Business Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

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

Sign Up

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 © 2026 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