Elizabeth King

1 week ago | businessobserverfl.com | Elizabeth King

A Lakewood Ranch civil engineering company has been acquired by a Texas firm that specializes in civil engineering, environmental and surveying services. Morris Engineering & Consulting LLC was purchased by Pape-Dawson, a company headquartered in San Antonio expanding in Florida. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Morris Engineering, on Professional Parkway in Sarasota County, was founded in 2009 and serves the greater Sarasota and Southwest Florida region.

1 week ago | businessobserverfl.com | Elizabeth King

The City of Bradenton is buying more than 32 acres from Tropicana for $4.85 million, after a yearlong process of negotiations and due diligence that resulted in a $400,000 price drop. Last May, the Bradenton City Council authorized a $5.25 million purchase of the land, which consists of two parcels off US 301 and Ninth Street East. The city plans to consolidate its public works department and solid waste operations, which are currently in two different areas, into one space there.

1 week ago | businessobserverfl.com | Elizabeth King

The owner of a Pasco County-based pool company has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following his conviction on multiple charges, including fraud. James Ivan Staten Jr. stole $1.5 million from Floridians as the owner of Olympus Pools by taking their money and failing to complete pool projects, according to a statement from the state attorney general’s office.

1 week ago | businessobserverfl.com | Elizabeth King

Daytime dining company First Watch launched its first location in Idaho this week. The restaurant opened for business near Meridian, Idaho, near Boise on May 6 and is now in 31 states. “At First Watch, regardless of the season or the economic cycle, we are about growth,” First Watch President and CEO Chris Tomasso says, kicking off a May 7 first-quarter earnings call. In the first three months of the year, the company opened 13 restaurants in 10 states.

1 week ago | businessobserverfl.com | Elizabeth King

Entrepreneur/companyKim Githler is reinventing her company — again. Githler founded MoneyShow, which she describes as a content company focused on in-depth education for financial services, in 1981. When she started out, the focus was on events. Today, the company still holds shows in major cities featuring financial experts for crowds of thousands. Githler also holds virtual events and uses social media, newsletters and her website to educate people about markets and investing.