Bobby Harris talks about the beginnings of BlueGrace, finding talent & his love of rescue dogs

There’s a unique character trait that Bobby Harris, founder and CEO of BlueGrace Logistics in Tampa, looks for in new employees—an affinity, and love, for animals. “It’s typically a person

Monica Hernandez comes full circle in life and business

Monica Hernandez often took four buses to go to and from school in Medellín, Colombia. She comes from humble beginnings, with education always being a primary focus in her life.

St. Petersburg’s coffee dynasty is brewing its next chapter

Before you enter the roasting headquarters of Kahwa Coffee, in St. Petersburg, your nose will know you’re there before you do, in the most delightful way. Brewing since 2006, Kahwa

Doyle Carlton’s way of life

Cattle ranching in Florida started nearly 500 years ago, most historians agree. While the Carlton family’s history doesn’t go back quite that far, the family’s most recent six generations have

Rob Hessel is a small town guy with international dreams

Rob Hessel went on a trip of a lifetime this year. He took his grandmother, Mary Ellen Hessel, to Ireland to visit where his family originated. When he recounts the

Don’t fear failure: How Val Marks reflects, regroups and rallies

Valeri Marks has run eight businesses in her career, including in the telecom, data communications, online real estate, recruitment and health care industries. She prefers to go by Val, is

Michael Lundy’s philosophical evolution

Michael Lundy is a straight shooter, both in and out of the courtroom. He doesn’t mince words, a trait that has carried him far as co-founder and managing partner at

Rick Thomas puts family above all else

Rick Thomas has a quiet and reserved personality but his face lights up when he speaks of his love for his wife and children. He entered the life insurance business

Adventures in the Music Industry & Beyond

Crystal Morris knew how to water-ski practically before she knew how to walk, learned how to fly a plane in college and she started a company with her father after

FKQ: Doing Whatever It Takes Since 1961

Walking into FKQ Advertising + Marketing, visitors most likely will be greeted by a screen welcoming them, by name, to the offices. Attention to detail is one of the qualities

Bootstrapping Boys to Booming Business

It all started with a van, two guys in college with a summer to spare, and an idea. “The summer before our senior year of college, I had an internship

JP Guilbault, The Unconventional CEO

Jean Paul Guilbault, or “JP” as he’s often referred to, never intended to become a CEO. Originally majoring in psychology to earn his doctorate, he says his path to the