Marina Roukalova 
You see them on TikTok, Instagram and other social media channels. But it’s not all silly dances and challenges, it’s a big business and there are entrepreneurs, based in Tampa Bay, making big money by it – in an ongoing series, Tampa Bay Business and Wealth is finding these Tampa Bay social media influencers and … Read more
A common belief of a persevering mindset is, “Where there is a will, there’s a way.” Brad Beatty, inspired by his daughter’s dire struggle with Cystic Hygroma, founded The Lillian Bay Foundation, in 2022. The groundbreaking nonprofit organization leverages the power of cryptocurrency and digital assets through Lillian Finance to expedite funding in support of … Read more
Kristina Lavallee, also known as “The Cake Girl,” went viral on social media for designing Tom Brady’s 45th birthday cake, in the shape of a goat. Her business, which started off as a side hustle, in 2008, with Kristina and her husband, Kirby, selling cakes at markets and festivals has turned into a permanent storefront … Read more
Tampa-based entrepreneur David Chessler sponsored a project at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business which gave students the opportunity to get real world entrepreneurial experience. This USF entrepreneurial competition had 60 entries out of which Team 11 division’s project, JustBaked Hot Food, made the final three. Team 11 included four USF students … Read more
Cornerstone Consulting has been serving the natural product space for more than 36 years helping small, medium and large natural product companies manage their Business Management Software and Enterprise Resource Planning solutions. From inception to completion of the project, Cornerstone provides resources, and expertise, to help natural food companies stay competitive in the dynamic retail … Read more
The 45th annual St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show will take place at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater—Yacht Basin and Albert Whitted Park from Jan. 19 to 22. After merging with the Tampa Boat Show in 2022, the event returns to downtown St. Petersburg with a comprehensive display of vessels from … Read more
Warning: This story contains some suggestive “play on word” language. But if you know Kris Dehnert, that won’t surprise you. Dehnert, partner and chief executive officer of Dugout Mugs, based in Lakeland, is a serial entrepreneur who is known in the Tampa area for being a maverick with a golden touch when it comes to … Read more
Kris Dehnert, chief executive officer and partner of Dugout Mugs, announced the acquisition of Lumberlend, a Westford, Massachusetts company famous for being the “Home of the Original Bat Mug” and Dugout Mug’s largest competitor in the market. Dugout Mugs, based in Lakeland, makes one-of-a-kind gifts for baseball fans with products that are featured in over … Read more
St. Petersburg has emerged as a cultural waterfront haven, a destination for residents, and visitors, to enjoy year-round. As the city becomes more established, prominent additions to the city’s skyline are emerging. Award-winning, global architecture firm Arquitectonica is introducing The Residences at 400 Central, a 515-foot tall, 46-story mixed-used tower that stretches a full city … Read more
With the motto, “A royal pet is a healthy pet,” Royal Pets Market & Resort says it was intentional in choosing Midtown Tampa to be the location of its urban flagship store. As Tampa gains popularity, and momentum, to rival urban epicenters with the promise of opportunity, the city keeps getting better in offering a … Read more
