Cover Stories

It’s not the first time we’ve heard this part of the story. In fact, it’s becoming quite the theme. Someone visits the Tampa Bay area, falls in love and, down the road, decides to plant roots and start a business here.  Moises Agami is another chief executive officer to have such a story.  Born in

Editor’s Note: This story contains descriptions of sexual and physical violence and suicide. It could be triggering for some. Here are a few things to know about Carrie Charles. She’s a tough cookie, as resilient as they come.  She likes to laugh and takes great pleasure in making others do the same. Her comedic timing

Raise your hand if you think the home buying and -selling process is a headache.  Ever stayed where you were for too long because the thought of enduring the move and all the “moving” parts that go with it was just too daunting?  That’s where Ideal Agent comes in. The Tampa-based company, established by Steve

Brad Oleshansky has many stories to tell.  He’s had more careers than most. He went to film school, law school, represented Los Angeles rappers in the 1990s, when absolutely nothing was happening in the industry during that time. West Coast versus East Coast. It was a thing.  He worked for Disney and Simon Marketing, which

Walking onto Richard Forsyth’s six-acre property takes you back to old-time Florida.  Right off Bayshore Boulevard, the property sits on Tampa Bay, the body of water not the often referred to term the region, and has plenty of green land, moss coverings and banyan trees.  It’s quite picturesque. As is Forsyth’s family and life. Fitting

It’s a profound foundation for Suhail Rifaie, family. In almost every important matter in his life. Every goal he has ever set. It’s why he wanted to attend medical school, it’s why he set milestone markers on his life’s journey, with when in his life it was time to have a wife and children, and

Deborah Duffey says she is an extremely private person. Happiest at home, in her garden, spending time with her family, she lives a fairly quiet life, even if she has leadership positions at a handful of companies. She is president of Dermazone, chief executive officer at Kara Vita and chief operating officer at NuVessl. Chances

The dictionary definition of a father is as follows: one who loves, supports, guides, encourages and inspires his child or children. Sam Ellison, patriarch of the Ellison family, checks all those boxes and more. His eldest son, Casey Ellison, established EWI Construction, in Tampa, in 2007. His younger son, Cory, joined big brother as the

Bull-headed determination is not an overstatement when retelling Cammie Chatterton’s story. She established her own company, Bay Food Brokerage, based in Tampa, in 1993 in a male-dominated industry. The company has since grown to 43 employees and had revenue of $9.1 million in 2021, with projected revenue of $10 million to $11 million in 2022.

Julius Davis is a fourth-generation Tampa native. He grew up in Jackson Heights, went to Chamberlain High School, the University of South Florida … and has worked on some of the most iconic Tampa landmarks, to date. Ulele, Sparkman Wharf, projects at Tampa International Airport, projects that Tampanians drive by every day. His engineering firm,

Physician Jacqueline Darna checks a lot of boxes in the game of life. She’s a woman, Hispanic, a health care professional, an entrepreneur, intelligent yet a lot of fun, a mother, a wife. The only thing she really isn’t is stationary for long. She is a fiercely smart and driven woman who grew up believing,

Shilen Patel admits his story is just a portion of the larger story of his family and what they have built, since arriving in the United States. He was born in Tampa, but greatly appreciates the sacrifices and challenges of those that came before him. “Always around me, as a norm, was sort of risk-taking—this