• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 9, 2007
Coffee Talk

Area construction firms look past condos: Sarasota-based construction executive John Wiseman says he's not going to leave a candle burning in the window for the dark Gulf Coast condo market.Alico-Ginn deal a clue to real estate future: To get a sense for when the real estate market will rebound in Lee County, take a look at the recent restructuring of a deal between Orlando-based developer Ginn Development and Alico, the giant agribusiness headquartered in LaBelle.And now live, from Tampa Bay, it's . . .: With just the perfect mix of being in the right place at the right time, almost anything can happen.WCI stock may be a treat, if it doesn't trick Does Michael Burry know something we don't?: On Halloween, Burry acquired 5.7% of the outstanding stock of WCI Communities, the Bonita Springs-based homebuilder that is now chaired by billionaire investor Carl Icahn.Florida bankinghead leaving: Susan Martinez, regional president for Region's Financial Corp. in Tampa, a banking industry veteran of 35 years in Florida and one of the few female banking presidents, is retiring at the end of the year.Engineers call a bottom to the housing market: You shouldn't lose your sense of humor, especially when times are tough.We're number nine! We're number nine!: Drum roll please: Florida ranked...ninth in 2007, behind first-place North Carolina and seven other states on Site Selection magazine's annual business climate rankings.Media Gene

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • May 13, 2005
Real Estate Briefs (Sara/Mana)

Developer plans North Port VillageBeach Retreat owners buy Longboat's Beach CastleSarasota Business Center expansion continuesGulf Coast Collection moves to Sawyer Oaks

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 31, 2003
Flattering Figures

Chico's is the hottest women's retailer in America. But its founders are stepping back a third time. New CEO Scott Edmonds, a former plumbing wholesaler, must now prove the third time's a charm.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • January 28, 2005
People to Watch

Will their stars keep rising? Or will they go down in flames? Regardless of the result, these 10 business people are sure to intrigue.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • January 30, 2004
Lightning Master (Tampa edition)

Jay Feaster spends most of his time near the ice rink, not in the courtroom. In Feaster's first full season as general manager of Tampa Bay Lightning, the National Hockey League team won its first division title.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Janelle Makowski |
  • January 2, 2004
'We're Having Fun'

Sarasota's SunCoast Bank learned the disadvantages of being nationally chartered. In 2004, it expects to make up lost ground.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Rod Thomson |
  • February 16, 2012
Kill Bills

Florida is one of the most litigious states in the country. But attempts to change the laws meet intense resistance from trial lawyers.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • July 30, 2020
New CEO brings gutsy — yet polished — edge to $930M firm

With humility and a burning desire to outwork competitors, the new leader of a storied insurance firm faces unique situation: prosper through a pandemic.

  • Leadership
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • March 1, 2019
Trump's man in Florida gets pumped for 2020

Joe Gruters relishes his disruptor role in local and state politics, where he’s mostly been behind the scenes. His influence on a vast array of topics is likely to grow — quickly.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Laura Lyon |
  • March 14, 2025
TV personality expands her brand with multiuse media studio

Multimedia entrepreneur Rhonda Shear brings a never-say-no attitude to her latest role: running a high-tech production studio

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 20, 2006
The Beall's Curve

For Beall's, low profile doesn't mean low results. Despite its quiet approach, the company's made some bold calls, such as eliminating outlet advertising and doubling the size of its department stores.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 2, 2007
Building the Future

Kraft Construction Co. is the largest builder on Florida's Gulf Coast with more than 500 employees and nearly $700 million in gross revenues in 2006. Based in Naples, the company has been expanding its reach from Collier and Lee counties northward into Charlotte and Sarasota counties. It is now beginning to do work in Tampa Bay.John Pinholster is the new president of Kraft, taking over for co-founder Robert Carsello. Here is an extended executive session with the man who will be guiding the company.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • April 27, 2007
Hands-off Buchanan becomes hands-on

Freshman Congressman Vern Buchanan has earned kudos for reaching out to constituents and is winning respect in Washington.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • April 2, 2004
Winning the War

These are changing times for the president of South Tampa's Scarritt Law Group, a trial lawyer known for his no-holds-barred style.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 2, 2008
Coffee Talk

+ Holland and Knightgoes to the Middle EastAt a time when many law firms are consolidating offices, freezing hiring, reorganizing or cutting pay, Holland & Knight LLP is expanding.+ Big cash paymentscome at the right timeGevity, the Lakewood Ranch-based publicly traded human resources outsourcing firm, is in the midst of a nine-month run of declining revenues and profits. But it recently received an early Christmas present in the form of a $47-million net gain in payments it had previously earmarked as collateral for worker's compensation claims. + Sell two restaurants,win a MercedesWe've all heard about incentives for brokers to sell more homes. Now that trend is beginning to appear in the slowing commercial real estate business.+ One percent of Forbes 400 on Gulf CoastFour of the 400 richest people in America call the Gulf Coast home, according to the latest ranking by Forbes magazine. The price of admission to the magazine's list this year was $1.3 billion.+ Wiregrass centerplows forwardDespite tight economic times that have forced the closure, shrinkage or stalled expansion of many retailers, the Shops at Wiregrass shopping center project in Wesley Chapel, in south central Pasco County, is still planning for an Oct. 30 grand opening.+ Florida businesshopes to attract neighborsThe Florida real estate market is really hot after all. Sarasota group aimsfor elected in mayorA plan to create an elect

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 9, 2008
Merchants of Hope

Providing death with dignity on the Gulf Coast is big business. It requires big-thinking executives.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 24, 2004
Drive-by Litigation?

Small businesses battle what they call frivolous and expensive lawsuits bydisabled rights advocates.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 11, 2003
Golf Under Siege

Gulf Coast counties are implementing golf course design standards, ostensibly to maximize environmental protection. Opponents say it's a thinly veiled attempt to prevent growth.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • March 4, 2016
Carlos Beruff's Road to Damascus

How and why homebuilder-entrepreneur Carlos Beruff converted from business to politics. It's all about taxpayers' money.

  • Florida
« 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 »
The best of Business Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest business and commercial real estate news from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Sign Up

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Podcast
  • Big Book of Business

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Distribution Points
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Your Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
×
3 Articles Remaining!
Not a Subscriber?

Click here to Subscribe

Already a Subscriber?

Click here to Login

Sign Up for Daily Brief

Start your day with the top Gulf Coast business news you need to succeed.

Sign Up for CRE Central

Stay updated with a weekly roundup of big deals, market shifts and the people shaping commercial real estate from Tampa Bay to Naples.


Smart People Subscribe.

Turn headlines into game plans. The playbook’s right here.
Subscribe to the Business Observer today.

Subscribe Now