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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • December 3, 2010
A Better Season

The winter tourism season is shaping up to be an improvement over last year. But hoteliers on the Gulf Coast say a short booking window and weak demand will continue to pressure room rates.

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Traci McMillan Beach |
  • December 19, 2014
Spend it now

Pam and Les Muma are the biggest individual donors to the University of South Florida. The retired executives say they prefer to spend their money now, so they can 'enjoy it and direct it.'

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • March 25, 2025
Circus-themed hotel opens on Lido Key near St. Armands

Cirque St. Armands Beachside, a 135-room luxury property, pays tribute to Sarasota's history as a circus town with its design and name.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • June 24, 2022
Commercial cleaning firm, at a critical juncture, puts faith in new leader

With a fresh breeze of private equity capital in its sails and a newly minted CEO at the helm, Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services prepares to enter a major growth phase.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 31, 2007
Growth Snatchers

A Gulf Coast firm with a niche in making synthetic lifelike body parts for medical testing seeks $1 million in real investment money.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • December 31, 2007
Light It Up

Installing home theaters and a remote control for 350 light bulbs can be lucrative. It's all about 'taming technology.'

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • January 6, 2006
Coffee Talk

Chico's picks headquarters builder: One of the Gulf Coast's construction prizes - Chico FAS Inc.'s new corporate campus in Fort Myers – was quietly awarded last month to Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, a Lee County builder.Persistent growth at Persystent: Ray Weadock, founder and chief executive officer of Tampa's Persystent Technology Corp., is bullish on 2006 when it comes to the technology sector.CEOs take on another role: Dean Akers, CEO of Tampa-based laser hair removal chain Ideal Image Inc., recently became chairman of the CEO Council of Tampa Bay Inc.A fork in the curve: Pinellas Park-based bank analyst Richard X. Bove celebrated the arrival of 2006 by questioning conventional wisdom.Amending the amendment?: Physicians and insurance companies pushed an amendment to the Florida Constitution limiting contingency fees for attorneys in medical malpractice cases as a way to reduce new cases and drive down legal costs.What's up with the economy?: George Bernstein, a senior portfolio manager with Bernstein Research and Management, will discuss Florida's economy, with an emphasis on the Tampa Bay area, at a Jan. 18 event at the Hyatt Regency Tampa.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • July 8, 2005
Room-Rate Recovery

The high cost of construction and the conversion of old hotels to condos are boosting the values and cash flows of existing hotels. It's a good time to be in the business.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • August 5, 2005
Coffee Talk (Tampa)

Bank holds out for nice price: It was not six months ago that Glen W. Fausset, president of 1st National Bank & Trust, was stamping out speculation that the 19-year-old Bradenton bank would be sold.Well represented: It appears the local real estate industry, for the most part, applauds the recent appointment of Pinellas County Commissioner Bob Stewart to the Florida Impact Fee Review Task Force. McEwen gets official OK: As expected, Catherine Peek McEwen has received the official approval of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to become Tampa's next bankruptcy judge.All's well?: Talking about Tampa bankruptcy court: It might be one of the busiest in the nation, but business has been slowing down there over the past couple years.New bank on schedule: The first bank based in south Hillsborough County in almost a decade is on track to begin business next month.'Real-Time Enterprise': Are you ready for extreme competition as the "great 21st century business reformation" takes place? Look no further than the "Titans of Technology."

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • May 20, 2005
Entrepreneur Runner-Up: Jim Abrams

The founder and CEO of VenVest Inc. was one of this year's runner-ups for Entrepreneur of the Year.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • June 6, 2005
Coffee Talk (Sara/Mana)

Isle of Athena developer may need Athena's help: When you research Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill, you'll find some goofy mythological stuff - like when she was born.Rising real estate deflates economic development: John Saputo, president and owner of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, has been looking nearly three years in Manatee and Sarasota counties for a 25-acre site for his growing company - almost to no avail.Long way to go: The president of the National Venture Capital Association reiterated the obvious to local entrepreneurs and investment bankers recently.Don't call it a branch: The Bank of Commerce is adding a second location in Sarasota. But don't let Charles O. Murphy catch you calling it a branch of his bank.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • April 1, 2005
Real Estate Briefs (Tampa)

MI Homes plans 2,200-unit residential developmentCondo-offices to be developed at Clearwater's Northwood Plaza Alvarez Homes opens model homes in SouthshoreHoliday Inn Express mortgaged as part of a collateral loanMobile home park on Valrico Road soldEuromax International buys Pinellas manufacturing facilityHarrod Properties Inc. sells Bryan Dairy Road East property

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 25, 2008
Gulf Coast Week

Hyde Park Village changingEight tenants at Tampa's Old Hyde Park Village urban shopping center got notices to vacate or move to smaller spaces as the upscale retail center looks for ways to boost revenue amid a changing retail environment locally and nationally.Universal Health Care movesUniversal Health Care Group signed a lease as the first major tenant to move into 100 Bay Central in downtown St. Petersburg, the former domed corporate headquarters building of Progress Energy.Building departments mergeThe cities of Venice and North Port in Sarasota County have teamed up with Charlotte County to form a joint building department.Mining development deniedEven though Manatee County commissioners finally voted on a mining proposal for a 1,500-acre tract in northeast Manatee County, the issue is not closed. Lee comp plan changesLee County commissioners are debating 20 changes to the county's comprehensive land-use plan in a series of meetings, some of them more controversial than others.Long live CollierMagazines love lists.Fort Myers raises taxesThe Fort Myers City Council recently approved a 15% increase in the property tax millage rate that will result in a 12% increase in tax revenues, taking into account a 2.7% drop in property values.Tampa Ritz-Carlton deadTampa's chance to land a Ritz-Carlton hotel on the Courtney Campbell Causeway, between Tampa and Clearwater, has ended.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 28, 2008
Dollar Flood

Recession's grip induces the United States to flood the world with even more dollars.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 29, 2008
One Eye on Markets

The near collapse of Bear Stearns has made some commercial real estate sales more difficult and has the industry on guard for similar news.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • May 28, 2009
Against the Tide

The boating industry may be down, but it's not out. One entrepreneur is betting yachts and larger boats will ride out the economic downturn and he says he's already seeing the first signs of a recovery.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 13, 2009
Commercial Real Estate Sarasota-Manatee

Mainsail Development Group buys lodge

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 30, 2004
Real Estate Briefs (Sara/Mana edition)

This week's items: Schroeder-Manatee subsidiary buys Miles Media buildingCorvus International buys remaining 'Dunes' parcelsDeveloper buys Surfview Beach Resort for AzureRossiter's Harley to build addition, new Bradenton store

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 13, 2004
Productivity Inches Up

Productivity in the U.S. is five times that of Germany's. In the third quarter, U.S. productivity rose 5% over the same three months of 2002.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • January 2, 2004
Fast Start

Building the asset base of a new community bank while sustaining profitability is easier said than done.

  • Entrepreneurs
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