DECEMBER 17 - DECEMBER 23, 2021 | THREE DOLL ARS
FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E
Entrepreneurs | Financial wunderkind beats big banks to targeted audience. PG.10 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
SPECIAL ISSUE: BANKING & FINANCE
SLOW BURN It took First Home Bank 20 years to grow from hyperlocal lender to billion-dollar regional power player. Its next growth phase will be more aggressive. PAGE 12
Valerie Fulbright and Tony Leo| FIRST HOME BANK
MARK WEMPLE
IN MEMORIAM
STRATEGIES
GOVERNMENT WATCH
Big Loss
Air Born
Starter Money
Dr. Bill Lahners leaves behind a large legacy in the Sarasota medical and eye care community. PAGE 3
Entrepreneur turns a dream into reality with not one but two air-travelbased businesses. PAGE 8
REAL ESTATE
Bill designed to make it easier for startups to secure funding is a hot topic among state officials. PAGE 16
ENTREPRENEURS
BANKING
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
It Takes Two
Achieve Greatness
Mission Driven
Real estate investor Matt Hoffman has found a new calling, in helping men become better husbands. PAGE 7
Consortium of entities comes together to address affordable housing crises in east Collier County. PAGE 20
Investors buy Clearwater hotel for $115 million. 22 Vacant commercial land in Fort Myers sold for $8.45 million. 22
PAGE
3 The art of impactful leadership lies in the middle. Receive the top Business Observer news of the day in your inbox.
SIGN UP TODAY!
BusinessObserverfl.com/emailsubscribe
370137-1
DON’T MISS
Achieva executive Rocio Smith has a message for any leader overcoming challenges: Never make excuses. PAGE 11
Tampa apartment complex acquired for $61 million. 22