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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • August 27, 2025
Once-powerful Sarasota developer Henry Rodriguez reshapes, refocuses life

A go-star in development and politics, Henry Rodriguez now laments the direction his life took. "I was young, influential and making a ton of money," he says, "but I was miserable."

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 22, 2008
Coffee Talk

Construction company continues to cut costs: Kesselring Holding Corp., one of the few Sarasota-based, publicly traded construction firms, continues to lose money - including $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2008.Broken home then, executive homecoming now: Jayme Harris grew up in a broken, dysfunctional home in Plant City. She finished high school, enlisted in the Air Force and the rest is history.Say what? Toll gives Naples an "A": Robert Toll, the chairman and chief executive officer of the luxury homebuilding company that bears his name, is well known for dishing out grades for various areas where he builds luxury homes.Fundraiser prospers despite gloomy economy: The weak economic climate on the Gulf Coast, no surprise, has led to a slowdown in donations for all sorts of charities and nonprofit organizations.Economic scorecard drops Tampa to last: The impact of the soft housing market pulled down the 2008 numbers on the Tampa Bay area's economic scorecard compiled by the Tampa Bay Partnership.Madden dishes out sizzle and steak: The next time you're in Denver, give John Madden a call. He might treat you to a nice steak dinner.Gulf Coast legislators receive recognition: The Associated Industries of Florida's annual list of pro-business legislators includes a trio from the Gulf Coast:Junk wars wage in Tampa Bay: Coffee Talk introduced you in March to a junk hauling company that relocated from Washington to Tampa, run

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Janelle Makowski |
  • January 7, 2005
Fire & Ice

Trial lawyers Fred Zinober and Lyann Goudie are as different as night and day. That is apparently a plus. They took advantage of their differences to win a $16 million jury verdict.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 25, 2008
Coffee Talk

+ Dupe the media!Rake in profits!Someone finally figured out how to make money on the stock of WCI Communities, a stock that has fallen from the $20 range into $1 territory.+ Student housingin growing demandNot all of real estate has slowed to a crawl.+ Battle heats up oversoutheast Lee CountyAn epic legal battle is looking more certain with the resignation of a well-respected development consultant from a committee formed to examine land uses in southeast Lee County.+ Hot hogs focusof shocking studyTampa's Stinger Systems Inc. had a problem. It needed to prove the cardiac safety of its key product, the Stinger S-200 electro-stun gun, but it's hard to find human volunteers willing to endure the repeated shocks, close study and eventual surgery required.+ New C12 groupin Fort MyersC12, a nationwide group of organizations for Christian chief executive officers, has added a new franchise in Fort Myers. + Flagler Westshore purchaseexpensive, development delayedCoral Gables-based Flagler Development Group appears to be waging a big bet on its new Westshore property.+ Fight to widenPine Island RoadBuilders in Cape Coral plan to redouble their efforts to widen the busy Pine Island Road corridor despite the governor's veto.+ Not your parents'flea marketYou may have thought flea markets were a thing of the past, but a newly built one in Collier County takes the concept to a whole new level.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • December 2, 2022
St. Petersburg receives four bids to redevelop Tropicana Field site

The Tampa Bay Rays have signaled renewed interest in the property by submitting their own proposal, in partnership with Hines, a Houston, Texas-based developer.

  • Construction-Development
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 11, 2004
Real Estate Briefs (Sara/Mana edition)

This week's items: Two partners plan building, garage for Churchills siteMI Pueblo owners buy University Walk land Harvey Vengroff plans 26-home developmentPremier Team buys new office

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • September 5, 2024
SWFL restaurant week turns into bustling month of revenue gains

Sizzle Dining has grown from a small event to a September celebration — a big impact on the Southwest Florida restaurant industry and one of the largest restaurant week events in the region.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • May 14, 2009
Entrepreneur of the Year 2009: A Package Deal

Eric Baird has constantly pushed himself to do better at what is now his $26 million packaging and shipping company.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • August 3, 2023
New FGCU president aims to carry on predecessor’s momentum

Aysegul Timur’s steady rise in higher education has led her to a career-defining leadership moment.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 23, 2007
Costliest Year Yet

From life insurance to workers' comp to property coverage, insurers take risks on their clients. They gamble they'll take in more than they pay out.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 16, 2007
Customer Repo

A Sarasota auto-related business hopes to plug up its quarterly and yearly losses by buying a competitor. Big potential brings big risks.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 23, 2007
Corporate Report

New York's NeoStem buys Utek subsidiarySouthern DataComm buys Ingenico's eN-Concert lineCarBiz begins Kentucky sales, also selling in OhioPrivate Capital Management opposes TierOne mergerTech Data releases free Web invoice serviceBrown & Brown buys Wittner National GroupGeoPharma generic approved by FDAMoneyShow.com survey uncovers market worries

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Brady |
  • May 21, 2009
Bills impacting business

The Legislature was relatively kind to Florida businesses and property owners this year, streamlining permitting processes, lowering some taxes, reducing some government regulations.The following is a list of the most important bills and resolutions that were passed during the session.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 7, 2004
Airport Subsidy Ignores the Invisible

When Fred Piccolo, president of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, stood before Sarasota and Manatee counties' elected officials April 26 to ask for a $500,000 taxpayer subsidy to attract a low-fare airline to the airport

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 14, 2004
The Sponsors (Sara/Mana edition)

Sponsors for the event include: Northern Trust Bank, CPA Associates, Gevity HR, John Cannon Homes Inc., Lee Wetherington Cos., Startup Florida, USF, Sarasota-Manatee, Vengroff, Williams & Associates and Walters Levine Brown Klingensmith & Thomison PA

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Brady |
  • April 29, 2011
Power Play

Florida comes to a crossroads on whether to give renewable energy incentives to electric utilities or independent renewable energy producers and installers. Tens of thousands of jobs, thousands of businesses and one future city on the Gulf Coast are at stake.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By John Haughey |
  • May 3, 2019
Steel giant's new $240M plant packs promise

Nucor’s new micro-mill is a macro deal for the region — in jobs and more jobs. The company will also import its rock-solid culture.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jim Stinson |
  • June 5, 2023
Scrappy, innovative real estate entrepreneur reaps rewards of hard work

In just six years, Josh Marzucco, thanks to a strong housing market, has transformed his real estate startup into a statewide player.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • June 28, 2023
Homebuilder’s in-house strategy provides edge against competitors

What started as an offshoot of Naples-based Diamond Custom Homes has turned into an entity that’s forged its own identity.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • March 4, 2005
Gloomy Forecast

An economist with the federal insurer of bank deposits puts lenders on notice that there could be tougher days ahead.

  • Entrepreneurs
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