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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • February 21, 2020
Area entrepreneur creates business with handcrafted bow ties

Travis Ray runs The Dapper Bowtique.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Amanda Postma |
  • January 28, 2022
Money manager motivated by outsmarting others on the racetrack

CrossFitter by day, car racer by night, Michael Calamaras constantly seeks the next great challenge to tackle.

  • Executive Diversions
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • August 10, 2018
Software firm finds success in a super-early entry to a hot market

Some 30,000 customers in 140 countries use Market Technologies software to inform their investment and business decisions. The firm posted $7.56 million in revenue in 2016, $7.76 million in 2017, and is on track to hit $8 million for 2018.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Laura Lyon |
  • February 5, 2025
Tampa liquor store chain grows revenue 25%, store count 50%

Liquor Depot owner Trey Lawson keeps tabs on trends and tastes. He also has found a just-right recipe for turning social media posts into brick-and-mortar store foot traffic.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • August 25, 2023
Fourth-generation Bealls leader embraces change in business, industry

In looking ahead, Matt Beall looks back to the advice of his grandfather that changing up things is essential to any strong business model.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • December 27, 2025
Sarasota water bottle company wins over social media influencer

WellHouse will work with RossCreations in 2026. The startup also now has a distribution deal with Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 22, 2008
Ensured Frustration

Tallahassee's first attempt at legislating property insurance rates failed. Get ready for the sequel.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 29, 2003
Risk Management

Physicians turn to binding arbitration agreements to help stave off the high cost of malpractice insurance premiums and the threat of frivolous litigation.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 26, 2004
Sold On Sarasota

After a development process that featured highs and lows, itis time to break ground on the condominium project at 1350 Main.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Brady |
  • September 10, 2010
Public Union Power Play

Government workers' unions are funneling record amounts of money to political campaigns — 92% of it to Democrats — in hopes of protecting pay and benefits.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • April 15, 2011
Tower Time

David Grain parlayed a devoted data-driven approach to business decisions into some terrific triumphs. He foresees more success soon.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • June 3, 2021
From home improvement to home building, shortages causing major delays — and cancellations — for builders and contractors

Rising costs and material shortages put the construction and homebuilding industries in peril — while the economy wobbles.

  • Construction-Development
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • December 21, 2018
Area community banks take on upstart tech firms

It’s not just millennials that community banks risk losing. A recent report from global research firm Gartner, for one, pings community banks in particular on fintech: “By 2030, only 20% of heritage financial firms will flourish and win,” states the repor

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • August 17, 2018
Guardian Angels

Tamiami Angel Funds offers young, growing companies something more than money. List includes intellectual capital in business acumen and mentorship.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • April 1, 2016
Millennial Speak

Sunnie Schuster, Tampa; Zach Katkin, Bonita Springs; and Brandon Taaffe, Sarasota

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • October 10, 2024
Stephanie Heredia, 30

40 Under 40 winner Stephanie Heredia is CEO of Taxes Tampa.

  • Class of 2024
  • By Anastasia Dawson |
  • March 10, 2026
St. Pete entrepreneur aims to outsmart AI algorithms with startup

Jon Mest, winner of a spARK Labs by Ark Invest’s Innovation Showcase, is choosing to bootstrap his way with his startup ChatRank.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 25, 2011
All in the Family

It wasn't patronage that landed Ed Kobel at the head of DeBartolo Development LLC, one the Tampa Bay area's largest family-owned companies; it was fate, success and hard work. But his genes sure didn't hurt.

  • Strategies
  • 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
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