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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • September 12, 2014
Back into the cape

Community banks are returning to Cape Coral, a city that was one of the hardest hit by the housing collapse. Rising real estate values are boosting confidence.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • April 4, 2014
Sweet Lou

Buying insurance can be confusing, if not maddening. One executive aims to take away the pain, an approach that clearly works: Annual premiums at his firm are up almost 60% since 2011.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • August 1, 2005
The Spartan Approach

Keeping it simple and operating in the shadow of the big financial services giants, a Raymond James alumnus hopes to be the investment banker of choice for Florida banks.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • June 2, 2006
Walsh: Citizens Insurance: a looming Category 5 disaster

Another hurricane season is upon us. Let's pray hard: Please, no big hurricanes in Florida this season. The Florida residential insurance industry cannot withstand one; it's really and truly on the brink.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 11, 2008
Coffee Talk

+ Game, set . . .tennis exec watchedOne of the Gulf Coast's leading sports industry executives might be in line for a big promotion. + World bankeroptimistic about FloridaSheila Bair, chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. - also known as the world's second most powerful woman, according to the Aug. 27 issue of Forbes - hit Sarasota recently with a sobering message for Gulf Coast bankers: The worst is yet to come. + Builders burnedabout election resultsMichael Reitmann thinks Lee County is on its way to becoming more like Collier County after a trio of Republican incumbents won their Lee County Commission primaries on anti-growth platforms.+ The commissioneris coming to townThe buildup to Tampa's Super Bowl XLIII preparation will heat up a little more Oct. 13 when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell comes to town.+ Philosopher brokerleads Tampa officeLucas Hewett, the new managing director of the Tampa region for GVA Advantis, does not hold an MBA or accounting degree. Nor did he intern at a financial services firm in college.+ Lee leaders seekstimulus packageEconomic stimulus and rescue packages are all the rage these days.+ Gulf Coast Apple guruutilizes advantageHere's one way to beat the economic blues: Run a business that is devoted to all things Apple - the computer company that continues to outperform its peers in an industry-wide slump, thanks to hot sellers like the iPod and the i

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • March 24, 2006
Luxury by Lutgert

A development firm founded by Raymond Lutgert in the 1960s has quietly been amassing a real estate empire. With more than 50 companies, the firm is now heading north to Sarasota.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jim Stinson |
  • September 8, 2023
PNC Bank: Business owners' optimism strong

A PNC survey has business-owner soaring while hiring concerns linger.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 23, 2007
Accomplish the mission

The best leaders don't boss others around, a pro says. They show them how to do it, starting with providing clearly defined goals.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 23, 2008
The Outplacer

Daniel Farrar says Gulf Coast business owners are too negative. Anyplace in Florida looks better when you move from the Midwest.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • April 26, 2013
Land advantage

Mark Wilson was an early buyer of premium lots in Naples and Sarasota, but it's paying off today.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Alex Mahadevan |
  • October 28, 2011
Defensive Diversity

Cybrix Group saw massive revenue expansion from 2007 to 2010. Uncertainty in the defense contracting industry has stalled that growth.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • July 5, 2013
Fly boys

A trio of executives takes aim at what they call an 'underserved and overpriced' niche of the aviation insurance market. The plan has rocketed to success.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • June 29, 2012
Murky Middle

A new business consulting firm seeks to help companies in so-called no man's land. Those are the ones that are 'too big to be small, and too small to be big.'

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • November 3, 2017
Change Agent

An insurance firm with high aspirations for industry disruption recently scored a big win, with a $12 million capital raise. Now comes market acceptance.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth Morrisey |
  • June 30, 2017
Fertilize Growth

A Polk County business has overcome several challenges to expand globally. It also hits a milestone anniversary in 2017.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth Morrisey |
  • November 24, 2017
Chain Gang

A Polk County recreation complex built in 1975 is on the verge of a major makeover. Officials hope the boost goes deeper than sports.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • July 8, 2016
Slow down

The challenge of managing fast growth nearly swallowed entrepreneur Jennifer Phelps. She fought back with a courageous move.

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Steven Benna |
  • April 15, 2016
Falling margins

Low interest rates nationwide impacts banks of all sizes. For community banks, the impact goes directly to profitability.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Steven Benna |
  • June 3, 2016
A nook for everyone

A business focused on tiny homes stores big potential. After five years, its founders want to seize it.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • June 3, 2016
Counter move

A warm embrace of technology catapulted a Sarasota-based manufacturing firm to big growth.

  • Strategies
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