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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 25, 2007
Corporate Report

NeoGenomics sells stock, adds $4 million in financingTyco Plastics' Sutter becomes Gerdau Ameristeel COOQuality Distribution promotes president to CEOOSI Restaurant Partners completes buy-outHSN celebrating 30th in July, adding Emeril cookware lineCorporate Write starts cruise Web site

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 17, 2006
Sweet Equity

A literal hands-on entrepreneur learns how to grow by letting go. After starting the business on $6,000 in combined family savings, he's grown it to $10 million in annual revenues.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 20, 2004
'It's Like Wildcatting'

Referrals are a way of business for Henry Valenzuela. It's lucrative, too. His law firm collected about $50 millionon behalf of clients since its formation in 1996.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • November 12, 2010
Carrying On

The Wynn family of Naples has successfully passed the business enterprise from one generation to the next. Meritocracy, diversification and family bonds are clues to passing it on.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • September 13, 2013
Bucket list fillers

It took a 100-mile trip to The Villages, the central Florida retiree and snowbird sanctuary, for Gulf Coast travel agency entrepreneur Ed Mass to land a big score with Wal-Mart.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • June 29, 2012
Instant Entrepreneur

Jason Fry was tending bar when he won the Florida Lottery in late 2007. Unlike lucky people who spent all their winnings, Fry parlayed his millions into successful businesses.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By John Haughey |
  • December 23, 2021
Diverse business incubator plans for robust 2022

After its own turbulent expansion, Lakeland business incubator — on version 3.0 — focuses on ‘velocity to launch’ for scalable startups.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Traci McMillan Beach |
  • December 2, 2016
Tech giant

The CEO of one of the largest companies in the region, Tech Data, has even bigger dreams. Think Amazon.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Traci McMillan Beach |
  • May 12, 2017
Beverage rules

The top executive at a $1.2 billion company has learned a key secret to building a standout internal culture. It starts with an all-out focus on transparency.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Traci McMillan Beach |
  • May 26, 2017
Framing fitness

Tampa-based Peerfit seeks to disrupt the wellness market. With nearly $4 million in funding, it's well on its way.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • June 20, 2025
Gaming company levels up with new HQ in Nokomis, plots more growth

Fast-growing Sarasota County company Combat Waffle Studios moved into space formerly occupied by Tervis in Nokomis, where it is expanding staff and its software portfolio.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • May 20, 2005
Bank Turn

A group of south Hillsborough County business owners, rebuffed by thrift regulators, decide that starting a state-chartered bank makes better sense.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 15, 2006
Pub Crawl

After 15 years of deliberate growth, a pair of lifelong friends running a bar and grill chain are about to pass $11 million in annual revenues. Expansion throughout the Gulf Coast is up next.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 16, 2007
Not Just Talk

An entrepreneur's chat with others about starting a bank turns into reality as the group hires a CEO and files an application with state regulators to form GulfShore Bank. It has raised several million dollars in the first couple weeks of its capital campaign.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • January 26, 2008
Unique 2.0

Mike Montgomery couldn't believe how little technology there was inside a $15 million air conditioning company. So he bought it. And then he changed everything.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 8, 2008
Tax Act

The rush to beat a tax increase in Lee County distorted the commercial real estate market and will result in a glut of empty space. Meanwhile, the highest taxes in the state on new construction in Collier County keep a lid on new development.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • November 26, 2005
Runnin' Scared

There's nary a beverage can, from Pepsi to Coke to V8, in the supermarket aisle that the Dalton family business hasn't helped create. Three generations of Daltons have had a heavy hand in the company's success.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 2, 2008
Hands on help

The Gulf Coast is full of retired executives who are ready to help budding entrepreneurs. Abbie Sladick turned to them to help her build a successful business around an innovative idea.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • April 10, 2009
The next shoe

Commercial real estate lending is the bread-and-butter-business of community banking on the Gulf Coast. With vacancies rising, could this sector overwhelm banks with bad loans?

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 15, 2004
Risk Taker

An established Orlando attorney uproots a successful law practiceto start over in St. Petersburg.

  • Entrepreneurs
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