APRIL 12 - APRIL 18, 2024 | THREE DOLL ARS
FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E
Education | Onetime USF dean leads school’s business partnership outreach. PG.8 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
FAMILYBUSINESS
inside:
SEE PAGES 10-15
PAPER MATES Father-daughter leadership team relishes a key rule in working well together: mutual respect. PAGE 10
DATA SNAPSHOT
Smile Factory
In some good news for retailers, a new report finds that Tampa Bay-area residents and visitors put a premium on retail therapy. PAGE 5
IN MEMORIAM
John Passidomo
Attorney John Passidomo, who died April 3 while hiking in Utah, leaves a big legacy in the Southwest Florida legal, business and civic community. PAGE 6
ENTREPRENEURS
Keep on Rocking
Music and entertainment executive Barry Weisblatt senses big opportunity in launching an exclusive private concert club in Sarasota. PAGE 7
INSURANCE
Flood Gates
Lee County is in a high-stakes dispute with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, putting millions of dollars in insurance discounts at stake. PAGE 16
REAL ESTATE Lee County OKs $200 million in affordable housing projects. 17 Plans revealed for $548 million hospital in north Manatee County. 17
DON’T MISS
Key lessons from Honest Abe. PAGE 3
Mark Serbin and Britney Serbin Scragg| SERBIN PRINTING MARK WEMPLE
BIG HOT OFF THE PRESS 2023
423425-1
BOOK OF BUSINESS
THE DATA THE LISTS THE CHANGE MAKERS
DON’T WAIT, ORDER TODAY!
Go to BusinessObserverFL.com/big-book-of-business www.BusinessObserverFL.com