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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • January 22, 2016
No barriers

A young entrepreneur's bold recession-era decision saved a company. Now she grapples with a new set of challenges.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • November 14, 2014
Healthy plans

Marion County doctors created their own health-insurance plan in 1981, and its popularity is spreading to other areas of the Gulf Coast. Such plans could be the cure for spiraling premiums.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 16, 2015
Michael Lake, 33

Director of sales, Turbine Generator Maintenance

  • Class of 2015
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • October 23, 2015
Stores of love

It takes discipline to manage growth. Chef Norman Love won't add stores until he's sure the quality remains superior.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • December 19, 2014
Major donor

Paychex founder Tom Golisano has given away more than $200 million of his fortune, including at least $29 million in Southwest Florida since he moved to Naples in 2009.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Laura Lyon |
  • June 21, 2024
The business of crane safety: From skyscrapers to zoos to toilet paper

The boom in construction over the past several decades has led to a boom in cranes operating across Florida. That, in turn, has boosted a company dedicated to training people how to use cranes safely.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • August 12, 2024
Forget pickleball: Entrepreneur brings indoor padel to Sarasota-Manatee

The Pad Sarasota offers space to play padel, a racket sport that is growing worldwide in popularity.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • April 9, 2025
Naples land, nature conservancy kicks off $70M campaign with $25M gift

Philanthropic family thinks big and long-term with a large donation to an environmentally focused conservation nonprofit.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • May 2, 2025
Fast-casual franchisee grows to four SoFresh stores in region

"I like the challenge," says entrepreneur William Wolf, who started out as a professional gamer and recently turned around an underperforming restaurant in a matter of months. One lesson? Put customer service first.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • May 5, 2025
Manatee County considers buying $23.5M building out east

Staff is proposing to move the administration building to Lakewood Ranch.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Laura Lyon |
  • May 8, 2025
Beck Besecker scaled $20M 3D software firm through grit, perseverance

"The reason we do this is we like to build things. That's pretty intoxicating, getting to kind of build stuff all the time." –Beck Besecker, 3D Cloud

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • October 30, 2023
Sarasota has a YMCA again, behind major nonprofit merger announcement

A no-quit group of volunteers and deep-pocketed donors, paired with some like-minded nonprofit executives, rejoice over the news Sarasota is no longer a city without a Y.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • July 19, 2025
Real estate agent goes viral with racy jokes, Trump impersonations

Bidets, big trucks and everything in between. Not much is off limits for broker Breanna Banaciski as she carves out a comedic cult-following in a competitive field.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • August 16, 2024
Sarasota window company declares bankruptcy, owes more than $1.2M

Sash & Sill owner Todd Hoch has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy and been censured in Sarasota County.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • August 30, 2024
Mall owners turn from new tenants to complete redos

While the future of traditional malls continues to be in flux, new mall owners see the huge pieces of land as an opportunity to reinvent.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • March 19, 2024
Toy executive turns C-suite failure into his greatest success

Purpose and clarity are the bookends for retired toy executive Jamie Gallagher’s four leadership must-dos. In between those are two C's: culture and creativity.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • September 21, 2023
Seltzer's owner slows down but says restaurants aren't going anywhere

Harold Seltzer’s Steakhouse has put its location in Port Richey on the market, but the company’s owner says the deal has to be right for customers and employees.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • August 9, 2019
Le Big Mac: Mother-daughter duo rapidly grows treat business

In building an $11 million pastry business, Rosalie Guillem and Audrey Guillem-Saba say oui oui to chasing the American dream.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • December 5, 2025
Water filter manufacturer in Manatee, with new product, in expansion mode

After building a local supply chain, Epic Water Filters is poised for growth. Plans include moving to a larger facility and doubling its payroll.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • August 23, 2024
Secretive Naples' exec on how to build a $3B medical device business

Reinhold Schmieding says little publicly about the company he founded, Arthrex. His silence belies the company’s resounding, generational success.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
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