Cover Stories

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 Coffee has a fairy tale of a story. What started as one shop has grown into a heavy hitter in the brewing community. Perhaps a

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 been in the ranching business and the next generation is on the path to continuing the family’s way of life. Roman III Ranches ranks 12th

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 memories from that trip, his eyes tear up. It’s a testament to Hessel’s personality — humble, humorous and honest. It’s also evident in the business

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 passionate about mentoring, and philanthropy, and speaks openly about how much she loves her family and her amazing business network. Marks has been the CEO

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 the Older Lundy & Alvarez law firm in Tampa. “If they won’t listen to me, what can I do to help them?” Lundy says about

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 after graduating from the University of Tampa and he never looked back. Now his company, Thomas Financial founded in 1975, has helped put $5 billion

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 graduating college. The company, Gator Cases of Tampa, has grown into a leader in plastic music equipment cases and other types of cases. Morris has

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 that allows FKQ, with headquarters in Clearwater, to compete with larger global firms. “FKQ is not the biggest. We don’t want to be the biggest,”

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 at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. It looked great on my résumé, and in my mind, I was preparing for the next year

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 c-suite was unintentional and unconventional. Intentional or not, his success with expanding the database technology company, Community Brands, is undeniable. With consistent growth and an

Vick Tipnes is driven by success, but to him, success means nothing if you don’t have freedom. “There are people that have a lot of money, but they’re not successful because they do not have freedom. There’s no success in being chained to a business or a career that you don’t love and have purpose

If Brian Butler disappears for too long from the Vistra Communications office in Lutz, his assistant, Pam Mooney, knows where to find him. He’s likely down the road at Mort Elementary School—reading books, dressing in a onesie for a laugh, or high-fiving students. It’s one of his favorite activities. He might not be what you