October 2025 - Tampa Bay Business & Wealth

How Tampa’s Ashley Butler turned struggle into success Ashley Butler, owner of Ice Cold Air, standing beside a red Ford Mustang at her Tampa home.

How Tampa’s Ashley Butler turned struggle into success

Chuck Merlis October 31, 2025

From struggle to success Ashley Butler built a $12M Tampa business rooted in grit grace and giving...

Che Vita opens in downtown Tampa with Italian Flair Interior of Che Vita restaurant at Hilton Tampa Downtown featuring wood tables, blue glassware and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows

Interior of Che Vita restaurant at Hilton Tampa Downtown featuring wood tables, blue glassware and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows

Che Vita opens in downtown Tampa with Italian Flair

Barbara Lynch October 31, 2025

Che Vita brings bold Southern Italian flavor to downtown Tampa.

Inside Mayor Jane Castor’s plan to fix Tampa traffic Tampa Mayor Jane Castor smiles in a professional headshot, wearing a navy blazer, white blouse and glasses.

Inside Mayor Jane Castor’s plan to fix Tampa traffic

Chuck Merlis October 30, 2025

Mayor Jane Castor maps out how Tampa will manage growth through new transit, funding partnerships and smart...

Tampa Bay legend Derrick Brooks named COO of USF Athletics Rob Higgins and Derrick Brooks pose together, both wearing suits and making the USF Bulls hand sign to celebrate Brooks’ new role as chief operating officer of USF Athletics.

Rob Higgins and Derrick Brooks pose together, both wearing suits and making the USF Bulls hand sign to celebrate Brooks’ new role as chief operating officer of USF Athletics.

Tampa Bay legend Derrick Brooks named COO of USF Athletics

Chuck Merlis October 30, 2025

Tampa icon Derrick Brooks joins USF Athletics as COO, uniting Tampa Bay’s sports and business leadership.

How Microsoft’s outage could impact Tampa Bay businesses Microsoft 365 apps displayed on a smartphone screen, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive

Microsoft 365 apps displayed on a smartphone screen, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive

How Microsoft’s outage could impact Tampa Bay businesses

Chuck Merlis October 29, 2025

Microsoft’s Azure outage revealed how deeply Tampa Bay’s business community relies on the cloud.

Tampa to host 2029 CFP National Championship Exterior of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, with “Home of the Krewe” signage and Buccaneers branding visible on a sunny day.

Exterior of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, with “Home of the Krewe” signage and Buccaneers branding visible on a sunny day.

Tampa to host 2029 CFP National Championship

Chuck Merlis October 29, 2025

Tampa will once again take the national stage as host of the 2029 College Football Playoff National...

Tampa nonprofit leading first mission to aid Jamaica Map showing Hurricane Melissa’s Category 5 path across the Caribbean, with Jamaica directly in the storm’s trajectory

Map showing Hurricane Melissa’s Category 5 path across the Caribbean, with Jamaica directly in the storm’s trajectory

Tampa nonprofit leading first mission to aid Jamaica

Chuck Merlis October 28, 2025

Tampa-based Operation Phoenix launches its first relief mission, delivering lifesaving aid to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.

From Bolita to Billups: Tampa’s long history with La Cosa Nostra Historic photo of Tampa mob figures from the early 20th century posing outdoors in suits, representing the city’s organized crime network during the bolita gambling era.

Historic photo of Tampa mob figures from the early 20th century posing outdoors in suits, representing the city’s organized crime network during the bolita gambling era.

From Bolita to Billups: Tampa’s long history with La Cosa Nostra

Chuck Merlis October 28, 2025

Tampa’s long history with gambling and organized crime echoes through today’s NBA betting scandal.

Kai Trump to make LPGA debut at Tampa Bay’s ANNIKA tournament he ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge sign at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, and a golfer taking a swing on the course under clear skies.

he ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge sign at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, and a golfer taking a swing on the course under clear skies.

Kai Trump to make LPGA debut at Tampa Bay’s ANNIKA tournament

Chuck Merlis October 28, 2025

Kai Trump and WNBA star Caitlin Clark bring star power and new audiences to Tampa Bay’s premier...

Tampa-based Melting Pot brings fondue to grocery stores nationwide Melting Pot at Home fondue packages beside a pot of melted cheese with bread and vegetables arranged on a table