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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • November 18, 2025
Feds allege phony contractor scammed elderly Naples woman of $1.2M after storm

The woman continued to give the man money for repairs even after the house was sold.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • February 26, 2026
Barancik Foundation grants $11M to housing, arts, education, hunger groups

Two of the grants from the Sarasota-based foundation were for more than $1 million.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Kevin Gillen – Synovus Bank |
  • March 6, 2026
Sarasota’s Got Talent: Job Creation Fuels a New Cycle of Investment in our Region

Sarasota's current 'job boom' is helping to shape the region.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • January 27, 2026
Sarasota County to buy medical examiner property for $21.6M

Commissioners authorized a contract to purchase the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 16, 2007
Corporate Report

General Dynamics wins anti-IED contractSuperior Uniform Group marketing for Hartmax companyGerdau Ameristeel stock offering finishedFlorida Metropolitan University adopts Everest University monikerChico's FAS October report troubling for sales, comparablesNeiman Marcus outlet headed to Miromar Outlets

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Janelle Makowski |
  • January 23, 2004
Never Give Up

In 2002, Gevity HR was in a survive-or-die scenario. Erik Vonk was the right guy at the right time.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Janelle Makowski |
  • January 30, 2004
'Never Give Up' (Tampa edition)

In 2002, Gevity HR was in a survive-or-die scenario. Erik Vonk was the right guy at the right time.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 21, 2007
Coffee Talk

Shareholders question Source Interlink acquisition: Shareholders didn't share the enthusiasm of Source Interlink's management when the Bonita Springs-based magazine distributor announced it was jumping into the publishing business.New construction company comes to town: Competition for Gulf Coast construction projects will be getting a little stiffer with the announcement that West Palm Beach-based Suffolk Construction will be opening an office in Lakewood Ranch.Florida nets four thrifts: Research firm SNL Financial recently released its annual list of the top 100 thrifts in the nation and only four Florida institutions made the 2006 rankings.Start off new employees well - or else: Coffee Talk readers are all too aware about the perils of making a bad call when hiring employees. But a new survey says that even good calls can turn bad - rather quickly - if there isn't a healthy amount of training and orientation given to the employee from the first day.Hodges boosts Naples university: International College, an independent four-year institution for working adults, received a $12 million gift from Naples funeral-business owner Earl Hodges and his wife Thelma Hodges.A new kind of letter to the editor: Time was, when you didn't like something you read in the newspaper or a magazine, you simply wrote a letter to the editor.Look for the blue, ValPak blue, that is: Largo-based ValPak Direct Marketing Systems, a pioneer in direct mail, w

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • October 20, 2023
$564M homebuilder sets its sights on new counties, multifamily market

Homes by WestBay, in following a pattern since it was founded more than a decade ago, makes some bold moves to stay ahead of trends — and grab more market share.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 13, 2007
Corporate Report

Fox Electronics marketing XpressO oscillator to JapanAT&T widens cell coverage with new Sanibel towerKesselring Holding Corp. appoints Badertscher to CEOWCI elects Icahn, ends sales effortObee's accelerates marketingFormer Hartford Canada presidentnamed new Oswald Trippe COOChico's increases board, adds Staples CFORaymond James Financial offers 10-cent dividend

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 11, 2008
Fantastic 4

The current state of the economy can put a frown on even the happiest of entrepreneurs. But not every Gulf Coast company is suffering.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 23, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Juniper Communities buys Naples ALFFort Myers hoteliersbuy Naples Super 8 MotelBelleair Development Groupplans Skyline Boulevard 7-ElevenJBM Realty Advisorslisting River Reach ApartmentsHealth Care REIT funding Windsor facility in VeniceHide-Away Storage Servicesplanning Fruitville facilitySpec Building Materialsbuys Bradenton warehouseStarwood Land Venturesinks N.C.-acquisition dealKennedy Investments buys Hanna warehouseProBuild Holdingsbuys Plant City warehouseDEV Hospitalitybuys Clearwater Wingate Road, Shops at Wiregrass,set to open in October

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 22, 2006
'All About the People'

Last year was a banner year for new community banks in Florida, with 25 de novo applications filed with state regulators. This year might come close.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 20, 2006
Persistence Payoff

Marty Schaffel took AVI from nothing to $225 million by reinventing his company regularly, creating one of the fastest-growing businesses in the audio-visual industry.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 21, 2007
Coffee Talk

Marco bank deal called off: Bad loans at Marco Community Bancorp scuttled a deal with the influential Barron Collier and Lutgert families in Collier County.Random acts of freebies: Free giveaways at banks are usually relegated to the coffee and donut display in the lobby. Maybe you'll land a Frisbee and a key chain, or even a lollipop, if you're lucky.D'Alessandro's body recovered: Commercial real estate brokers speculated for days about what happened to well-known Fort Myers broker Frank D'Alessandro.A treat for cookie and cupcake eaters: The wholesale bakery operation behind some of the Gulf Coast's most talked about, and eaten, cookies, muffins and cupcakes is going retail.Have lights, will sell franchises: St. Petersburg entrepreneur Nick Schriver, a 28-year-old landscape architect, started Decorating Elves three years ago as a sideline business that decorated homes for Christmas.Help us find the top tech companies Technology rules.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • January 21, 2005
Casual Dining King

The CEO of Applebeeis International talks turkey on the prime importance of market share.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • February 25, 2005
Coffee Talk (Sara/Mana edition)

Ranch's condo rush: Palmer Ranch is in the middle of a condo conversion rush.Stretching for success: It took the loss of an employee who was being groomed for the chief operating officer job to convince Lee Wetherington he needed to diversify his company's top operational position.Health care: businesses still buying despite cost: Two-thirds of small businesses provide health insurance benefits for their employees, according to a new study from the International Profit Associates Small Business Research Board. Consumers like little banks: Banks have had happier depositors and borrowers during the past two years, according to the University of Michigan's latest quarterly American Customer Satisfaction Index.Around and around: The way Irish American Properties is acquiring property for the Fruitville Road roundabout it would seem that it was a done deal.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • January 8, 2009
Art afloat

David and Lee Ann Lester retired to Bonita Springs after building one of the world's most successful fine-art fairs in Palm Beach. But they couldn't stay away, even as the economy has taken a turn for the worse.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 3, 2004
Off the Bench

Old pros, newcomers to square off in Hillsborough, Pinellas clerk finals; Tampa prosecutor Ober bests challenger.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Carl Cronan |
  • July 23, 2010
Riding a Wave

The Media Crew, a Largo ad agency, is realizing unprecedented revenue growth through online displays. Its principals are staying focused on managing their business to avoid getting swept up by a rising tide.

  • Strategies
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