Entrepreneurs

Mark Gordon
September 7, 2018

After early hurdles, rockstar entrepreneur finds her way

Memberships — the recurring revenue stream that’s the lifeblood of her business model — have increased from 100 in 2016 to 315 today. Jenny Townsend expects to be around 400 members by the end of 2018, and plans to expand into more adult lessons later thi

Entrepreneurs

Business Observer Staff
August 24, 2018

Big call: Local companies receive retail giant's blessing

Walmart's fifth annual open call competition was a success for three Gulf Coast companies that will soon find their products on the retail giant's shelves.

Entrepreneurs

Grier Ferguson
August 17, 2018

Entrepreneur's journey takes him from night clerk to store owner

John Nguyen worked his way up from a 7-Eleven night clerk to a franchisee with three stores. Success, he says, stems from systems — and a willingness to take out the trash.

Entrepreneurs

John Haughey
August 10, 2018

Roast of the town: Iraq war vet wows Publix with expanding business

Mulberry High School graduate and Marine Corps Iraq War veteran Chris McArthur has hit the jackpot with grocery giant Publix, which began to sell Patriot Coffee in 350 stores statewide in June.

Entrepreneurs

Andrew Warfield
July 20, 2018

Six years later, Zoomers owner is still riding high

Mike Barnes bought bankrupt and incomplete Zoomers Amusement Park in Fort Myers in 2011 for $1.3 million and invested $5 million more to open

Entrepreneurs

Andrew Warfield
July 13, 2018

Software 'excelerates' fraud detection

Excelerate Technology founder Barbara Steinberg is exclusive U.S. reseller of Altia-ABM fraud detection software

Entrepreneurs

Andrew Warfield
June 29, 2018

The metal to succeed in roofing products fabrication

Two-year-old company Architectural Metal Flashings disrupts the industry and earns second place in the Florida Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Awards

Entrepreneurs

Andrew Warfield
June 22, 2018

Naples company finding sweet success in sugar substitute market

Pyure Brands founder Benjamin Fleischer build his stevia business by hiring entrepreneurial-minded employees.

Entrepreneurs

Andrew Warfield
June 22, 2018

Entrepreneur creates an Oasis in a franchising desert

Oasis Senior Advisors CEO Tim Evankovich grows franchising business with heavy support and has been inducted into The Cleaning Authority Hall of Fame

Entrepreneurs

Brian Hartz
June 8, 2018

Rowdy return: Leader comes back with a plan

Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards had double-bypass heart surgery last year, but he's back and ready to resume his visionary role in St. Petersburg.

Entrepreneurs

Beth Luberecki
May 28, 2018

Area businesswoman — one fan is a Kardashian — delivers on new baby-centric business

Erika Perry , 32, started the company in 2014, while she was living in Chicago. The Stork Bag. The name plays off the iconic image of a stork delivering its infant package and also shows that it differs from the typical subscription box. (Items are sent i