Joy Randels, co-founder of Citizinvestor, is a prolific serial entrepreneur, with key roles in launching more than 89 companies, raising more than $375 million in venture capital, leading 17 acquisitions and two successful IPOs. "I started selling as a 9-year-old and started my first real business at 18," she said. "I have launched businesses outside [...]

Anju and Andrew Lynn, husband-wife co-founders of Xplor, Inc., have combined their professional skillsets to create a company that occupies an interesting niche in the world of marketing. Xplor is a marketing agency specializing in promotions, incentives, travel and meeting planning that was recognized as the 2014 Small Business of the Year by the Florida [...]

Lisa Hoban, founder of L.A. Events, an event planning company serving Manatee and Sarasota Counties, learned that she loved event planning as a volunteer for nonprofit events in the mid '90s. In 1998, she launched her own venture and hasn't looked back. "I volunteered in the community for nonprofit organizations and found I really enjoyed [...]

Lance Jones, co-founder of GO PUCK, is using his experience in corporate America to introduce his own venture in his old stomping grounds. "We were chosen by Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and Busch Gardens as their wearable power provider," he said. "We are pioneering renting power in those parks. They rent and sell GO [...]

Inigo Merino, founder of Cienaga Systems, first conceived of the need for applying user behavior analytics to cyber security in 2013. As a recently minted Wharton Executive MBA with 15 years as Senior VP of cybersecurity at Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch, he was certain of the need for these types of solutions, even if [...]

Earl Hagman, founder of Ergotronix, is the classic entrepreneur who experienced a problem, devised a solution and brought it to market. "I am a tall, slender guy and like many of us, I have tendency to use my back as leverage when I lift objects," Hagman said. "Early in life, I hurt back and as [...]

Ashley McCollum, founder of Rediscovered Moments Concierge, is a university professor and administrator turned entrepreneur. "I got into entrepreneurship completely by accident," she said. "My 20 year plan was to stay in education. As I moved higher in the university administration, I saw some of the politics I was a little naive to when I [...]

Matthew J. Peters, founder of Brilliant Futures Institute, has been an entrepreneur since he sold corn from the family farm on the side of the road. Today, he teaches the many lessons he learned along the way and helps his clients become intentional about creating the future they desire. "Brilliant Futures Institute educates, equips and [...]

Bruce Kamm, founder of VirtualBarter, built his technology company based on what he learned in the jewelry business. "I joined my father's jewelry business and grew it to multiple locations, manufacturing, and selling to jewelry stores around the country," he said. "In the jewelry business, I learned about bartering because we would trade jewelry for [...]

Randy Wadle, founder of software development firm NetWise Technology, not only knows the difference between working on your business and working in your business, but also knows that both are equally important. Working on your business is doing the work to enable your business to perform at a higher level. Working in your business is [...]