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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • May 23, 2019
Top Entrepreneurs: Founder, CEO of real estate empire built company with focus on values, customer service

Michael Saunders overcame a mountain of obstacles — including obtaining a $5,000 loan — to grow her real estate firm. Her laser focus on the company’s core values is paramount.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • February 21, 2025
100-truck strong Fort Myers concrete mix firm plots more growth

Born of necessity, Drake Ready Mix has quickly gained market share by sticking to some simple, customer-first principles.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • November 4, 2005
Splurge and Purge

Banks doing costly acquisitions on the Gulf Coast appear to lose market share, at least initially.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 25, 2006
Running on Ego

Oscar Parsons openly admits that his ego is part of the fuel behind the Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center. But he also fully believes he can make it work.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 7, 2004
Feuding Falkners

They're still at it. The Michigan transplants make millions growing cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes in Manatee and Hillsborough counties. After a year in court, their internecine squabble is far from patched up.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • June 17, 2021
Mother-son duo conquer Wall Street trend — from Sarasota

Betsy Cohen and her son Daniel, despite living 1,200 miles from Wall Street, are SPAC leaders.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • December 12, 2025
Hoffmann Marine's top executive navigates $150M in deals

Hoffman Marine President Jenny Gezella navigates the acquisition-hungry business of boating through a high-energy, high-reliability approach.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • July 31, 2023
Redevelopment of prominent Sarasota racket club underway after multiple twists

Demolition has begun on the "rebirth of an icon," rebranded as Bath + Racquet Residences and Club.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • April 10, 2023
DeSantis’ weapon: The law

No Florida governor in the past 50 years has wielded as much power and used the law the way Gov. DeSantis has. It’s all about the ‘BHAGs.’

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • February 24, 2022
Strong brew: Brothers bring disruptive, creative mindset to coffee startup

Hogg Batch Coffee Co., with its emphasis on experimentation, was bent but not broken by the pandemic. Its quick-thinking founders are now poised for big growth — and the challenges that can come with it.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • August 24, 2022
Law firm's lobbying practice grows quickly with all-star politico roster

When Shumaker dipped into launching a public affairs entity, some law firm partners called the idea "crazy" due to all the pitfalls. Five years later, things look pretty good.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 20, 2006
Blueprint for financial success

An entrepreneur who sounds more like a psychologist and philosopher than CEO explains why people are poor. To change your outer world, he says, you must change your inner world.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 20, 2004
Judicial Blitz

Chief judges and court administrators make an eleventh-hour appeal over concerns about a shift in how taxpayers pay for the state's trial courts.

  • Law
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • July 1, 2005
Flying High

County auditors are questioning the return Pinellas taxpayers are getting on economic development money spent on airline ads and social functions.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • May 7, 2006
Structured Success

John Jackson gave the Earthworks Land Development the organizational shakeup it needed to survive by using military-style leadership techniques. Now it's time to grow.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 20, 2005
Bank Turn

A Wall Street analyst tells Tampa investment managers that the weakening regional banking sector won't bounce back for a while.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 30, 2008
Silo Subtraction

A onetime military attorney is tackling the Gulf Coast commercial real estate industry by refining a teamwork-first approach. But the market dip is proving to be a big foe.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • January 23, 2009
Maintain the Vision

At 91, Nathan Benderson, the founder and visionary behind Benderson Development Co., still maintains the same business mantra he devised when we was 16 years old.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • January 14, 2011
No Flipping

Father-and-son team Jack and Anthony Solomon are positioning their real estate development company for the recovery. Timing is everything.

  • Industries
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