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Results for:

  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 19, 2008
Bank Returns

The new boss at Freedom Bank comes with a stellar resume and track record. Will it be enough to lead a turnaround?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Rod Thomson |
  • February 24, 2009
Economic woe based in morals

Capitalism is not to blame for our economic problems. Look no further than falling morals.

  • Opinion
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • July 27, 2012
Dive In

Thomas Contreras's life was in shatters. But his patented invention, a tool for fishermen and divers, could be his salvation.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • April 19, 2022
Follow four biz development gurus on the path to success

Construction and architecture executives share on the power of mentorship, resilience and how to find, keep and exude inner confidence.

  • Leadership
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • February 3, 2017
Focused priorities

Size matters in construction. But one of the largest builders in Florida seeks to maintain a local feel for every client.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • October 11, 2013
Motor Momentum

A Gulf Coast RV firm is back on the road to sales growth after a brief, but painful, recession-forced detour. One turnaround key: a robust profit-sharing plan.

  • Strategies
  • By Bob Andelman |
  • August 19, 2016
Hand-Me-Down

To ensure its longevity, Hendry Marine gave employees an ownership stake in the business. With more than 100 staff added in the past six months, capacity is its newest challenge.

  • Strategies
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • October 7, 2016
Updated digs

Lawyers traditionally emphasize convention over contemporary in offices. That's started to change.

  • Law
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • February 6, 2015
Crown jewel

Charles Murray oversees a manufacturing firm that's up more than 135% since 2011. But that won't stop him from a major strategy shift.

  • Industries
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • April 15, 2025
Former Navy Seal's Tampa firm brings solar power to Manatee arts school

Manatee School for the Arts' planned solar project includes 3,000 panels and was drawn up by former U.S. Navy Seal Steve Rutherford, who used technology to protect soldiers in Afghanistan.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Laura Lyon |
  • November 22, 2024
Incoming Tampa airport CEO is cleared for approach

Michael Stephens will assume the role after Joe Lopano’s departure scheduled for April 2025.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 2, 2007
Coffee Talk

Fort Myers Ramada may be torn down soonWant only the best for your beloved sportster? Well, if it's good enough for Britain's royal family, maybe it's good enough for the rich and famous on Florida's Gulf Coast.Andy Smythe, who became certified as an Auto Glym professional in England, thinks so.That's how he markets his two-year-old auto detailing business, Splash and Dashing. Now Smythe's mobile services aren't for the financialy faint-hearted.Coffee Talk is regularly amused by what counts as a value these days when it comes to higher education. Proof is in Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine's 2007 Best Values in Public College's list: The top 10 schools - two of which are in Florida - will all run more than $100,000 for four years.December existing-home sales continue declineBJ's Restaurant & Brewery CFO Gregory S. Levin says the California-based casual dining chain chose the Tampa Bay area for its first Florida location because it's such a great market for restaurants.University of Tampa business professor Joe McCann says family businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, contributing 65% of the nation's GDP annually.That's why it's only fitting for the college to recognize outstanding Florida family businesses each year.

  • News
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 23, 2007
Florida's Who's Who vs. THE SHARKS

Carl Icahn, one of America's most relentless shareholder activists, celebrated his 71st birthday Feb. 16. The party: He launched another proxy battle, this time for control of Bonita Springs-based WCI Communities Inc.Icahn in recent months has acquired nearly 15% of the homebuilder's shares. He wants to replace the entire board of WCI with his own slate of directors, including himself and Hugh Culverhouse Jr., owner of Sarasota-based Palmer Ranch and son of the late Tampa Bay Buccaneers' owner, who, in his day, waged his own share of takeover battles.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • March 8, 2023
Pickleball competition heats up — with millions of dollars at stake

A variety of entrepreneurs in the region are racing to get into — or get ahead — in the business of pickleball, with soon-to-be national leagues, all-encompassing social and sports clubs, and more.

  • Strategies
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • September 23, 2021
Meet the new guy

Homes by WestBay, homebuilder with a small-but-mighty mindset, woos an executive from one the biggest competitors in the field.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 24, 2017
Gobble, Gobble

Turkeys delivered by FedEx? Poultry sell-outs in 45 minutes? What in the world of Florida farming is going on? Some of the state's turkey farmers — a rare breed — have carved out a niche.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Traci McMillan Beach |
  • April 18, 2014
Market Revolution

To keep pace with his fast-growing marketing firm, HubSpot, CEO Brian Halligan has a new strategy: Think more and work less.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Traci McMillan Beach |
  • August 12, 2016
Nipping nausea

Jacqueline Darna's anti-nausea wristbands have made national headlines. Now the race is on to build buzz that can squash copycat brands.

  • Strategies
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • July 11, 2024
Artist behind $1,800 mailboxes delivers on ambitious expansion plans

Forced to move by redevelopment, pipe-bending entrepreneurial artist Scott Gerber finds a new home.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • April 6, 2018
Penny reign: CEO of super fast-growing startup shares leadership insights

In a wide-ranging interview, Penny Hoarder founder and CEO Kyle Taylor discusses his views on leadership, the future of digital media, his acceptance of mindfulness and meditation, and how he still gets teased by his friends.

  • Leadership
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