On the Florida Suncoast, Behind Every Great Business Is a Great Businesswoman

Well, I hope the headline got your attention.

I hit the jackpot the other night at Encore Live in Sarasota, where they were hosting a charity event benefiting Reimagine Dance. In attendance were four women who are not only accomplished professionals, but successful business owners as well.

It was one of those rare moments when the timing was perfect. Four talented women, all in the same place, each with a different story, a different path into business, and plenty to say about what it takes to build something of your own.

Naturally, it was the perfect opportunity to gather everyone together for a group photo and talk about the challenges, rewards, sacrifices and satisfaction that come with being a woman business owner on the Florida Suncoast.

Sherry Elliott —88 Live Bradenton

For Sherry Elliott, becoming an owner of 88 Live Bradenton wasn’t simply a business opportunity. It was the realization of a dream that had been with her since childhood.

“Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of one day owning a piano bar,” Sherry said.

That dream began moving toward reality through the late Roger Bluhm, who was working at 88 Live at the time. When Sherry learned that one of the owners was planning to leave the business, she recognized an opportunity that she couldn’t ignore.

“I jumped on the opportunity, and Roger helped me get a meeting,” she recalled. “I have to give Roger Bluhm a shout-out because if it wasn’t for him, my dream may never have come true.”

After doing her due diligence and carefully considering the opportunity, she became an owner of 88 Live in 2021.

What followed was far more than simply taking ownership of an existing business. Sherry, along with Scott Elliott, John Smith and the 88 Live team, began shaping the venue into the entertainment destination they envisioned.

“Since then, it has truly become a labor of love,” Sherry said. “With the help of Scott and John and our incredible team, we transformed 88 Live into the place it is today. We are family.”

88 Live Bradenton has grown into a 5,000-square-foot entertainment venue featuring live musicians, vocalists, special events, food and cocktails. The venue has also become especially known for its interactive Dueling Pianos shows on Friday and Saturday nights.

But for Sherry, the success of 88 Live is measured by much more than entertainment schedules or the number of people who walk through the doors.

Her goal has been to create a place where guests feel comfortable from the moment they arrive—a gathering place where friends meet, birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated, people dance, laugh and sing along with the music, and new friendships are formed.

“Today, 88 Live is not only a place for great live music,” Sherry said. “It’s a place where people can come together, feel safe, have fun, celebrate and make memories. Creating that kind of place right here in Manatee County is something we are incredibly proud of.”

That sense of community has become an important part of the identity of the family-owned business. The venue's entertainment has expanded beyond the original idea of a traditional piano bar, with local musicians, bands, special events and other entertainment joining the lineup.

Her journey also illustrates something familiar to many women business owners: sometimes the opportunity to pursue a longtime dream appears unexpectedly, and success depends upon having the confidence to recognize that opportunity and act on it.

For Sherry, taking that chance in 2021 resulted in the business she had imagined years earlier—but it also became something larger.

“Watching 88 Live grow and seeing the friendships and memories that have been made here means so much to me,” Sherry said. “I’m grateful for everyone who has supported us along the way, and I’m very proud of what 88 Live has become.”

Perhaps that is the most meaningful part of her story. What began as one little girl's dream of someday owning a piano bar ultimately became a place where an entire community can gather, listen to music and create memories of its own.

Dana Rothgery — Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub

For Dana Rothgery, becoming a business owner was not something that came with years of preparation and a carefully mapped-out plan. The opportunity arrived unexpectedly—and at a time when family responsibilities made the decision even more complicated.

Her son, Ryan, was just two years old when the opportunity to take over the business presented itself.

“I sat down with my husband Eric and asked, ‘Can we really do this?’” Dana recalled. “He looked at me and said, ‘Do you honestly think you can walk away from this opportunity? This has been your dream. You need to do it.’”

That conversation helped push Dana toward a decision that would change her life.

Since then, she has learned firsthand that business ownership comes with tremendous responsibility.

“Being a business owner is not for the weak,” she said.

One of the biggest adjustments has been understanding just how much responsibility comes with being accountable not only for the business itself, but also for the people who depend on it.

With 32 employees, rising operating costs and the constant challenge of keeping customers happy while still maintaining a profitable business, Dana describes ownership as a continual balancing act.

She also gained a much deeper appreciation for what Rayma Stowe had managed before her.

“I never truly understood everything Rayma dealt with until I was in this position myself,” Dana said.

There has also been a major learning curve. Dana and her team have experimented with new ideas, created new traditions and continued looking for ways to move the business forward while remaining connected to the customers who have supported it.

Despite the challenges, Dana says she would not change the experience.

“As crazy as it is, I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said. “I’m proud of us. I have an amazing staff and the most loyal and loving customers. Sometimes I just stand there in awe looking at our place.”

And when it comes to being recognized as a female business owner, Dana embraces it wholeheartedly.

“Absolutely, I’ll own it,” she said. “Women need to support and stand by each other. We live in a society where bullying can happen at any age, and I believe we are much more successful when we work as a team.”

For Dana, business ownership has become more than running a company. It has been about taking a chance, learning through experience, building something with people she trusts and proving that sometimes the biggest opportunities come when you are willing to take the leap.

Mindy Fearon — Encore Live

A native Floridian raised in Tampa, Mindy Fearon has built much of her life around food, family, friendship and bringing people together.

Her love of cooking began with her mother, who dreamed of owning a family restaurant but passed away before seeing that dream come true. Mindy carried that dream with her and opened Mindy’s Restaurant in 1992, serving old-fashioned country cooking in a warm, family-style atmosphere.

In 2001, Mindy and her husband, Korbin, opened Fearon’s Country Kitchen in downtown Tampa. The experience expanded her skills in the kitchen, including learning to prepare vegan dishes for customers seeking alternatives to traditional country cooking. They sold the restaurant in 2005.

Mindy later spent 18 years working in the insurance industry before retiring in 2022. But retirement didn’t last long. She soon found herself cooking again at the American Legion and Elks Lodge, rediscovering how much she loved being in the kitchen and around people.

Her path to Encore Live began through friendship. Mindy and Korbin met Kristen and Dave while watching their band, 22N, perform at Caddy’s. Over time, the friendship grew. When Kristen later asked Mindy to help while Encore Live’s general manager was away, Mindy stepped back into the kitchen—and quickly realized how much she had missed it.

When the opportunity arose to become business partners, Korbin and Mindy jumped at the chance.

Today, Mindy and Korbin are proud co-owners of Encore Live, working alongside Kristen and Dave to create a place centered on great food, live music, friendship and community.

For Mindy, it feels like everything has come full circle.

“Every chapter of my life has led me back to the things I love most—family, food, friendship, community and making people happy,” she said.

And for Mindy, Encore Live represents another exciting chapter—and one she believes is only getting started.

Kristen Lee — Encore Live

For Kristen Lee, music is more than entertainment, it has been a major part of both her career and her path into business ownership.

Kristen is the lead singer of 22N, a high-energy Sarasota-area party band that performs a mix of rock, pop, country and other crowd favorites. She is also a co-owner of Encore Live in Sarasota, where music, food and entertainment come together under one roof.

Encore Live grew out of years of experience in music, events and production. Kristen and David Lay have also operated event and production businesses, giving them a firsthand understanding of what goes into creating a successful live entertainment experience—from the performers on stage to the sound, lighting, atmosphere and overall guest experience.

That experience helped shape the vision for Encore Live.

Rather than simply opening another bar or restaurant with occasional entertainment, the goal was to create a music-first venue where live performance is at the center of the experience. Encore Live now features local bands, touring artists, tribute acts, special events, food, cocktails and VIP experiences at its Lockwood Ridge Road location.

For Kristen, the emotional connection people have with the venue is just as important as the entertainment itself.

As she explained in a 2026 interview about Encore Live, guests may not remember every detail of a particular night, but they will remember how the experience made them feel.

That philosophy says a lot about Kristen’s approach to business.

Whether she is standing on stage with 22N or working behind the scenes at Encore Live, the goal is similar: create energy, bring people together and give them a reason to come back.

Kristen’s story also shows how creative talent and business ownership can work hand in hand. Performing gives her a unique understanding of what musicians need from a venue, while ownership has given her an appreciation for the many moving parts required to keep a live entertainment business successful.

Today, Encore Live has developed into a Sarasota destination for live music, with a calendar that combines homegrown talent with national touring performers and special events.

For Kristen, however, the bigger accomplishment may be creating a place where people can gather, celebrate and connect through music.

She has taken her experience as a performer, producer and businesswoman and helped turn it into something larger than a stage or a show.

It has become a community.

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Suncoast Post Photo & AI Graphics