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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • April 14, 2021
Iconic restaurant chain’s co-founder serves up key lessons

Chris Sullivan's core leadership principles, even after nearly 30 years, hold up well to today’s environment.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • May 20, 2021
Founder of Tampa private equity firm credits approach to hiring and managing risk for growth

Brian Katz of Katz Capital Financial believes getting the right people is critical for companies to grow

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Kevin McQuaid |
  • December 13, 2019
Dufour making "a tremendous run" with multifamily sales

Patrick Dufour has carved out a niche with Tampa apartments at Newmark Knight Frank

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • February 14, 2020
How to succeed with a legacy business in a digital age

Rob and Kerri Stuart, co-founders of Creating Magic Vacations, a St. Petersburg-based travel agency, are riding high on a surge of interest in travel agency services.

  • Travel-Tourism
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • March 20, 2020
Insurance executive gives up CEO life for real estate venture

Not content to take it easy in retirement, a longtime insurance industry executive risked his nest egg on a real estate venture. One key to pulling it off? Knowing there are things you don't know.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • May 13, 2020
Top Entrepreneurs: Founder grows company, builds strong culture through challenges

Entrepreneur Deanna Wallin has built a successful retail and ecommerce business by addressing a personal need and focusing on company culture.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By John Haughey |
  • May 17, 2019
College president's success stems from dumping the ego

Kent Ingle relies on servant leadership, good listening skills to lead growth at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • May 23, 2019
Top Entrepreneurs: Ice cream company owner scoops out winning formula

Matt Eastman is building off sweet success to gain big time clients and expand Lickity Splits Ice Cream across Florida. One key: relentless determination.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Kevin McQuaid |
  • May 25, 2018
Ibis Group hopes Sarasota office portfolio takes flight through improved tenant relations

Ibis Group is working to build better tenant relations after Osprey Real Estate collapse and hiring of Coatue Cos. and Ian Black Real Estate

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • March 1, 2019
Up in smoke: A bank explains its big bet on barbecue

Dr. BBQ, Ray Lampe, has teamed up with Tampa Bay restaurateurs Roger and Suzanne Perry to open Dr. BBQ, an upmarket barbecue restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida, financed by Valley National Bank.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 14, 2016
Dennis Murphy, 37

Executive vice president, senior lending officer, Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida

  • Class of 2016
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • December 1, 2017
Sound Off

The sound of silence is music to the ears of a pair of entrepreneurs who seek traction in an unusual niche.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Traci McMillan Beach |
  • January 24, 2014
On tap

When Mike Harting asked his head chef at Bella Brava to brew a beer, he didn't dream that a year later he'd be opening his own brewery. Using connections from his 15 years with Outback, he's doing just that.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Kevin McQuaid |
  • August 5, 2016
Niche player

Industrial Realty Solutions focuses on one thing as a formula for success.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Kevin McQuaid |
  • April 15, 2016
Exit strategy

Osprey Real Estate Services spent years amassing an enviable office portfolio along the Gulf Coast. Now, it's for sale.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Steven Benna |
  • May 23, 2016
Executive Q&A: Fight industry exec does grunt work, too

Tampa marketing executive Michael Weber combines instinct with technology.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • March 25, 2025
Prominent Sarasota civic leader, lumber entrepreneur dies at 95

Charlie Stottlemyer was known as being easy-going, all-around friendly and the "epitome of a pillar of the community."

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Laura Lyon |
  • April 18, 2025
Sammy's Seafood keeps Tampa Bay restaurants stocked with fresh catch

St. Petersburg couple has been reeling it in for decades. "The secret is just getting up and doing the same thing every day. We're grinders," says a co-founder.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • April 4, 2025
Naples firm reaches deal to buy one of the largest poinsettia growers in the US

HF Companies. will acquire N.G. Heimos Greenhouses, billed as one of the nation’s largest poinsettia growers and preeminent greenhouses.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Laura Lyon |
  • May 9, 2025
Entrepreneurial chemist creates winning business formula with speed, focus

A natural flair for invention and a passion for R&D power Pasco County-based burn care brand KeriCure.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
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