Tickets available for Business Observer's annual Top Entrepreneur event

The Business Observer is set to honor six of the region’s most accomplished entrepreneurs at the annual Top Entrepreneur luncheon, scheduled for May 9.

The event begin with networking at 11:30 a.m. and will be held at at The Grove in Lakewood Ranch, at 10670 Boardwalk Loop. 

Similar to previous years, the event is split between video stories of three Top Entrepreneurs and a panel discussion of three other Top Entrepreneurs. Both through the videos and the panel, attendees will hear inspiring stories and leave with multiple takeaways and insights for their business and multiple industries that help drive the economy.

The video presentations include:

Liz Dimmitt, managing partner of Dimmitt Chevrolet, a family-run auto dealership that’s one of the largest in Florida. With experience at art galleries in New York City, Dimmitt is also CEO and co-founder of Fairgrounds St. Pete, a museum of immersive art and choose-your-own experience technology. 

Daniel Lubner, CEO of Clive Daniel Home a Fort Myers-based luxury home furnishings and custom residential and commercial interior design firm with an 85,000-square-foot location in Naples. Other locations are in Boca Raton, Sarasota and Fort Myers. He founded Clive Daniel Home in 2011 with his father, Clive Daniel.

Gigi Rogers, founder of Rogers Market, a chain of upscale convenience stores in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Rogers, an interior designer in a past career, who has lived in New York City, Londo, Los Angeles, Vienna and Barcelona, also oversees Sarasota-based ATCO Inc. a wholesale fuel refinery.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon. Panelists include: 

Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, the developer of Babcock Ranch, a solar-powered master-planned community in Lee and Charlotte counties. Before real estate, Syd played in the NFL for four seasons, an offensive lineman with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. He was named Time Magazine’s Dreamer of the Year in 2023. 

Katie Pemble, CEO and co-founder of Adelphi Trust Co. in St. Petersburg — one of only 13 registered non-depository trust companies in Florida. Katie has held leadership positions in Florida banks for more than three decades. Positions include: president of Bank of America in Pinellas County and president of C1 Bank in St. Petersburg.

Mike Quillen, president of three independent groups of restaurants and bars, with a total of 15 locations and 800 employees in Florida and North Carolina. He’s the co-founder of Gecko’s Grill & Pub, opening the first of what’s now six locations in the Sarasota-Manatee market in 1992. 

For information on sponsorships, contact Diane Schaefer at 941-366-3468 or [email protected]. For questions on tickets, contact [email protected].