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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 25, 2006
Running on Ego

Oscar Parsons openly admits that his ego is part of the fuel behind the Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center. But he also fully believes he can make it work.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 9, 2008
Coffee Talk

Minimize taxes on new construction: Builders dread the taxes on new construction because they're so high on the Gulf Coast that many projects now don't make financial sense.Westshore hotels continue to lure investors: Westshore, the Gulf Coast's biggest business district, has seen another hotel change hands - the Sheraton Suites on Cypress Street in Tampa.Sarasota college student shines: Executives and entrepreneurs searching for employees who 'get it' have long complained that the Sarasota-Bradenton area is lacking in colleges and universities that can produce those types of job candidates.Sneaky, er, creative way to get new business: Here's one sign that it's a rough time for mortgage brokers.Downtown Tampa grows, still lacks residents' needs Downtown: Tampa is maturing as a residential location and urban destination for residents and workersFort Myers fundraising maestro is back: Bill Merwin is back and he'll help you shake some money out of those trees.Largo dentist develops tool to help athletes excel: If you're tired of hearing about steroids, a Largo dentist has developed a natural way to help athletes and non-athletes improve performance: the Pure Power Mouthguard.Worrisome Gulf Coast banks being watched: Gulf Coast financial institutions have a starring role on an updated 'watch' list of Florida banks complied by a national banking analyst for financial Web site thestreet.com.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • April 16, 2004
Russ Stahl is Different

The 61-year-old Tampa attorney seems unfazed by the child-sex charges facing him. He recently won an $18 million jury award for an injured client. 'I am not a normal person,' he says.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 25, 2004
Real Estate Briefs (Sara/Mana edition)

This week's items: Gibraltar Homes preps for new officeKimal Lumber building new window-door facility, officeBlackpoint Group starts third, fourth flex buildings84 Lumber buys land for store

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • May 13, 2011
Big Fish

John Langley is quietly building a giant medical-transcription company, outsmarting the competition with sophisticated technology and talent. His next challenge: government health care.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • November 23, 2018
Cold war technology rockets fintech firm to global dominance

ACI Worldwide’s technology began as a solution to prevent an accidental nuclear missile launch. Now the firm aims to prevent competitors from creeping into its space.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • March 19, 2025
Clearwater firm grows facility, customer base while remaining largely unnoticed

Pinellas County manufacturer Florida Seating, with a client roster that includes some of the most well-known restaurant brands in the country, has added 18,000 square feet to its compound.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • October 7, 2005
Tampa's Visionary

Over the years, Finn Caspersen has contributed to the development of downtown Tampa just about asmuch anyone else. He may be at it again.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 6, 2004
'Bring Life to the Streets'

When four-year plans to develop condominiums next to the Quay didn't materialize, Irish developer Paddy Kelly decided to get involved.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 30, 2012
Kaplan alleges how he was scammed

Sarasota real estate investor Marvin Kaplan has lost about $22 million in what his attorney alleges to be a Ponzi scheme involving Sarasota entrepreneur Larry Starr.

  • Law
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • February 15, 2023
OfficeMax founder: From childhood poverty to building a $5B business

Witty sayings? Check. Gutty business experiences turned into integral lessons learned? Check. Starting a $5 billion company from an idea and $20,000? Check. OfficeMax founder Michael Feuer has it all.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • February 13, 2023
Homebuilders set to capitalize on shifting demographics

Stubbornly high housing costs are pushing homebuyers out of the core Tampa Bay counties, but residential developers are ready for the surge.

  • Construction-Development
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • January 30, 2023
Tampa energy exec on getting to the top: There’s ‘no easy ride’

A reflective look back at her career leads energy executive Helen Wesley to some crucial truths. Among them humility and hustle are always will never turn to fossils.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • January 22, 2021
Human resources firm chases lofty growth targets

With a bolstered senior leadership team, a company — founded in an industrial park garage — that specializes in taking on outsourced human resources tasks seeks to capitalize on myriad growth opportunities.  

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • May 5, 2022
Local leaders rethink how to train, recruit workers

The prolonged and profound labor shortage runs deeper, many companies have discovered, than boosting pay and benefits. Two organizations have seen that dynamic, with some innovative solutions at the ready.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • September 1, 2022
Manufacturing CEO reflects on successes as company nears $1B threshold

Helios Technologies looks to hit a big revenue milestone in 2023 — two years ahead of schedule.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • October 28, 2022
Fast-casual noodles chain in growth mode looks to Tampa Bay

A national chain with a fervent fan base targets the region for expansion. "We get letters all the time: 'Please, please, please come to Tampa,'" says an executive.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • November 11, 2022
$1.5 billion firm’s new HQ is 80% smaller than its old space

Kforce, embracing and leading the way on the hybrid work, opens new Tampa HQ “empowered by trust and technology." It turns out that requires a lot less space

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 17, 2007
For the money

Large personal-injury firms have mostly stayed away from smaller, more conservative areas of Southwest Florida. Not Morgan & Morgan, which hired top corporate lawyers, including Florida Lt. Gov. Jeffery Kottkamp.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 23, 2007
No Strings Attached

CEO Charlotte Baker isn't after venture capital this time. She's clearly in charge, with no one else directing her moves, though she has two partners.

  • Entrepreneurs
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