Executive Diversions

October 26, 2025

What is your hobby or pastime? Be part of the Business Observer’s Diversions issue

Mountain climbing or moonlighting as a secret agency tracking human trafficking rings. Whatever you do outside the office, we want to know about it.

May 11, 2025

Trust company exec, cancer survivor relishes global marathon successes

Between surviving cancer and running marathons across the world, it's no wonder Jeff Muddell now says "any challenge in life seems small."

January 10, 2025

PR firm founder 'drops in' to skateboarding hobby

What started as a birthday gift has turned into a unusual after-50 pastime for a PR pro.

January 10, 2025

Restaurateur horses around with rescue animals on his 5-acre farm

Lee Karlins has a lot on his plate but is up with the dawn to care for his critters.

January 10, 2025

EDC president aids community by helping to catch human traffickers

Bill Cronin, a top economic development official by day, uses a particular set of skills he has learned over years to help a team of people hunt down human traffickers.

January 10, 2025

Sarasota nonprofit CEO on quest to visit every national park across US

Harvest House CEO Erin Minor says seeing one national park made her want to check out them all.

January 10, 2025

St. Pete entrepreneur rekindles passion for dancing

Jamie Van Cuyk pushes herself to new heights with her longtime passion.

January 10, 2025

Manufacturing CEO turns flying hobby into a way of life

Flying, for manufacturing CEO Scott Ashton, isn’t merely a way to get from here to there.

January 10, 2025

Adrenaline sport takes luxury homebuilder founder up to 136 mph

Murray Homes President Steve Murray is also an amateur race car driver.

January 10, 2025

Married Tampa execs take on a new challenge together every year

Jessica Muroff and Owen LaFave say dancing, hiking and running deepen bonds, build resiliency and teach how to fail forward.

January 10, 2025

SWFL nonprofit exec takes center stage with dramatic side gig

Horizon Foundation Executive Director Bill Johnson's advice for people who try acting is wise counsel for anyone, in any endeavor. "Anything is possible," he says. "If you don’t try it, you’ll never know."

January 12, 2024

Printing entrepreneur's wine pastime leads him to travel the globe

"Life is too short to drink less than good wine," Andrick & Associates President Mark Esbeck says of his longtime pursuit.

January 12, 2024

PR exec climbs Mount Kilimanjaro to teach himself, daughter life lessons

Entrepreneur Preston Rudie climbed one of the tallest mountains in the world to learn he could do less — and that his business would be OK.

January 11, 2024

Construction CEO's hobby smoking meats becomes company asset

Cooking, grilling and smoking meats is more than dinner for Russell Budd. It has also become a part of the company culture.

January 11, 2024

VP seeks adventure outside of Tampa nonprofit

In learning how "the first step is the scariest," National Pediatric Cancer Foundation executive Casey Taylor pushes herself to handle bigger and tougher steps.

January 10, 2024

Nonprofit mental health CFO finds escape playing ice hockey

Competition, constant improvement and camaraderie drive Ronne Apicella’s passion for a sport played on something decidedly un-Florida: a sheet of ice.

January 10, 2024

Bank president accomplishes life goal: Learning to fly planes

Brandon Box gets away from it all by heading into the clouds.

January 9, 2024

CEO steps out of her comfort zone in teaching aerobics

Heather Plampin, the president and CEO of vacation rental company The Cottages on the Key, gets her non-work kicks out of teaching an intense group fitness class.

January 9, 2024

Ad agency CEO says running makes her a better, more confident leader

Advertising executive Christine Turner started running in college to relieve stress. Now she’s conquering racecourses across the country, including mountainous trail runs.

January 8, 2024

Commercial real estate exec doubles as 7-time perfect game bowler

Tampa Bay real estate VP Melissa Riccardi gets away from it all by rolling strikes.

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