DECEMBER 11 - DECEMBER 17, 2020 | THREE DOLL ARS
FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E
Strategies | Entrepreneur crafts model that caters to overlooked customers. PG.9 PASCO • H ILL SBOROUG H • PIN ELL AS • P OLK • M A N ATEE • SA R ASOTA • C H A R LOT TE • LEE • COLLIER
Rip Cord Consumer product firm’s ability to respond quickly to unforeseen opportunities helps it close in on a major growth tipping point. PAGE 10
Hallie Visaggio and Jeffrey Rudd | ZIPKORD SOLUTIONS
LORI SAX
IN MEMORIAM
PANDEMIC RESPONSE
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Ranch Hand
Bonding Experience
People Mover
Bob Blanchard, in a business career that lasted some 60 years, helped build two prominent banks in the region. PAGE 3
E nt repreneu r ut i l i z e s ye a r s of experience managing remote workers to create new business. PAGE 7
Investment firm grows from humble beginnings to area powerhouse, with more growth on the way. PAGE 12
DATA SNAPSHOT
STRATEGIES
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Border Patrol
Light this Candle
Made in the USA
The pandemic is forcing Canadians to forgo winter travel plans — another blow to the region’s tourism sector. PAGE 6
In shifting to manufactured homes, Naples real estate firm stays one step ahead of competitors. PAGE 14
New York firm buys Plant City distribution center for $70 million. 12 Westshore Marina District developer wins award. 13 National builder acquires south Sarasota County land for $10 million. 13
PAGE
15 Five steps to get a succession plan back on track. A MUST- HAVE
One - of - a - kind resource for networking, marketing and research on the Gulf Coast of Florida 347174-1
DON’T MISS
Businesswoman takes her bath and body products company from the kitchen table to Whole Foods. PAGE 8
REAL ESTATE
DON’T WAIT, ORDER TODAY!
Go to BusinessObserverFL.com/top-500
www.BusinessObserverFL.com