MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2025 | THREE DOLL ARS
FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E
Trends | Report: Florida’s hot economy is primed to cool off in the next five years. PG.6 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
Back to Business Five years after leaving elected office, a prominent politician is now running a family investment office for a prominent and wealthy family. The pair’s broad mission: make Tampa Bay better. PAGE 10
TOM LEE, TOM PEPIN | Pepin Family Office
MARK WEMPLE
REAL ESTATE
COMPANY CULTURE
DEVELOPMENT
AGRICULTURE
Team Approach
Stick Together
Luxury Centric
Land Man
A trust company with offices and clients across the region nears a longevity milestone behind an employee-first mentality. PAGE 7
DON’T MISS:
Delray Beach-based developer Kolter Urban has launched sales of its latest high-end condo project in downtown Sarasota. PAGE 8
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, at a Polk County land conference, talked up the industry, citrus and his political future. PAGE 12
Nashville firm buys Lee County hospital. 15 Tampa gas station on cleaned up site sold. 15
PAGE
3 Lee County firm’s $3.8B deal comes with a twist.
BIG HOT OFF THE PRESS 2024
BOOK OF BUSINESS
442339-1
Two Sarasota County housing projects obtained tax-exempt loans from an unusual source: the Housing Finance Authority of Lee County. PAGE 3
REAL ESTATE
THE DATA THE LISTS THE CHANGE MAKERS
DON’T WAIT, ORDER TODAY!
Go to BusinessObserverFL.com/big-book-of-business www.BusinessObserverFL.com