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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • October 24, 2025
Studio that builds companies, backed by prominent leaders, launches in Sarasota

A group of Sarasota executives steeped in founding and exiting businesses has turned their attention — and wallets — to a new startup, Suncoast Venture Studio.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 5, 2003
Extradordinary & Obscure

Despite a regulatory jungle, Theresa Schefstad took a strange animal - a thrift owned by a securities brokerage - and tamed it. Raymond James Bank now wants more commercial loans.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • July 7, 2023
Tampa Bay construction manager overcomes political turmoil, language barriers

JE Dunn Construction project manager Maria Escalona is not one to let obstacles stand in the way of pursuing her true calling.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Brady |
  • April 16, 2009
Tied to the Tracks

Controversial commuter rail projects are rolling forward in the Legislature, but opposition is mounting.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 29, 2008
Passionate for Patterson

How do you run an charity that grew itsendowment from $3 million to $225 million overnight? Debra Jacobs, a former Gulf Coast banking executive turned local philanthropic guru, is about to find out.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • April 1, 2011
'Coffee with Craig'

One of the largest insurance firms on the Gulf Coast has a new leader for the first time since 1999. Expectations are high.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • March 9, 2022
Healthy pet food firm chews on bigger market

After a pandemic-forced sales tumble, The K9 Kitchen considered shutting operations down. A customer-turned-investor helped give the startup new life.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Kevin McQuaid |
  • August 30, 2019
Westshore riding a wave of activity

A raft of recent office sales illustrate that investors remain drawn to the suburban Tampa business district.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • June 29, 2018
Marketing firm, behind its like-heavy Facebook status, dreams big

A meeting with Facebook in February 2016 proved to be a tipping point for Sarasota-based Dealers United. Now it's a digital marketing firm with big plans for growth.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Amanda Postma |
  • April 1, 2022
New Sarasota-based law firm president outlines ambitious goals

Painted as a calm, reliable leader, Telese Zuberer steps into the president role at Icard Merrill with ease.

  • Law
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 18, 2016
Economic Forecast | Sarasota-Manatee

The one word that could neatly sum up what Gulf Coast business owners and entrepreneurs would like to see in the economy in 2017 is a soothing one: balance.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • June 25, 2024
$2B Tampa REIT: NYSE listing allows it to 'raise equity much more easily'

Days after ringing the bell at Wall Street's famed New York Stock Exchange, Sila Realty Trust's CEO talks about the future, the process and lessons he learned from his father.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 3, 2006
Battle Royal

Billions of dollars in home sales are at stake - even in the down market - as luxury realty firms duke it out for the tip-top of the well-heeled homebuyers. Two firms have hired 25 agents during the past month.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • July 3, 2006
Real Estate Briefs

Flying Bridge property sold to Naples developerEcono Lodge former owner buys back motelInvestors purchase Tara land for office developmentFairway Development Group buys Boleyn Road landRADISSON to open in '08 in SarasotaGreen Tee complex apartments acquired for $12.5 millionGroup buys Radio Road land for shopping centerNorth American Properties buys land in North Fort MyersFerman Motor buys dealership landMiami investors buy Campus Walk ApartmentsOsprey SA buys Westlake Corporate Center

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • August 13, 2004
Unintended Consequences

Problems plague court and constitutional officers as the state assumes funding for the courts.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • February 6, 2004
Repeat Performance?

Coast Bank of Florida stumbled in 2003 after going public, a familiar situation for founder Gerald L. Anthony.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • May 14, 2004
Risk Manager

Bill Mullis, one of the godfathers of the professional employer organization industry, finds success again and again.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • June 24, 2021
Hertz gets a post-pandemic, post-bankruptcy fresh start

With the breathing room of emerging from bankruptcy, global rental car icon Hertz faces its next big test: reinventing its model.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • January 15, 2021
Accounting firm defies industry norms, grows rapidly

St. Petersburg tax and accounting firm Spoor Bunch Franz challenges industry norms, traditions and expectations. Its methods seem to be working.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • March 22, 2024
CEO Shirl Penney: From the depths of poverty to running a billion-dollar business

Shirl Penney’s life — from homeless teen to founding a $90 billion financial services company — is a made-for-Hollywood story. It’s also a story of grit, guts and grandfatherly lessons.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
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