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Results for:

  • 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 Rod Thomson |
  • July 20, 2012
Go Deep

Bauer Foundation Corp. survived the recession by landing a big contract in a new area of expertise. New technology and specialization allowed it to lead the way.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Amanda Postma |
  • August 12, 2021
While leisure travel spikes, business travel remains half of what it was

Tourism numbers are back up. New flights are multiplying in airports across the region. But business travel has been slow to join the party.

  • Travel-Tourism
  • 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 John Haughey |
  • March 1, 2019
Florida Senate to tackle major business issues

The State Senate’s No. 1 leader enters the new Legislative session with lots of ambition, from medical marijuana clarification to infrastructure needs. His chief worry: blind spots.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • March 9, 2018
Next Step

She's put some notorious drug dealers and murderers in prison. But the new U.S. Attorney, in a district from Tampa to Naples, also brings no-knee-jerk decision-making to her job.

  • Law
  • 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 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
  • 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 Mark Gordon |
  • July 14, 2017
Rick vs. Rick

The race for mayor of St. Petersburg has turned into a bruising battle. 'It's two titans of St. Petersburg politics,' says one analyst.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • February 28, 2014
Young and hungry

Fawley|Bryant, where annual revenues will likely double this year to at least $6 million, clawed its way back from the architecture industry-crushing recession. A youthful spirit anchors the rebound.

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • May 13, 2016
Hardy Hunter

One county, just outside the Gulf Coast, is in an all-out battle to lure businesses to town. It's a big-money effort.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • February 20, 2024
One year later, Florida legislators are updating the $711 million Live Local Act

Two pieces of legislation are making their way through the Florida Legislature aimed at tweaking and updating the affordable housing legislation passed with wide bipartisan support last year.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • April 2, 2025
Industrial deals lead the way in SWFL's commercial real estate sector

A trio of big-dollar deals in Lee County drove the Southwest Florida's industrial sector to new heights, but some worries, one broker says, linger.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • 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 Andrew Warfield |
  • August 12, 2025
New SRQ airport CEO brings steely levels of experience to role

Paul Hoback helped remake Pittsburgh into "the best origin and destination airport we can be." Now he aims to carry on the legacy at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • November 6, 2023
Soccer star Piotr Nowak takes coaching role at Naples private school

Polish-born soccer player and coach Piotr Nowak delivers lessons of humility, sacrifice, teamwork and more to a fresh-faced middle and high school program at The Village School of Naples.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
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