News
Behind the Business: For Tim Miller of Miller Home Loans, Relationships Are Worth More Than Transact
With direct access to more than 100 lenders and a personal approach to mortgage financing, the Mount Dora loan officer is building his business around accessibility, education and lasting community connections. In an industry where borrowers can spend weeks navigating paperwork, comparing interest rates and trying to reach the person handling their loan, Mount Dora mortgage loan officer Tim Miller is building his business around a simple idea: his clients should never have to wonder who to call. In
Behind the Business: From Mount Dora's Ice Cream Stroll to Florida Snow Days, Glacial Ice Delivers
When thousands of ice cream samples are being handed out across downtown Mount Dora, there are plenty of details that can go wrong. Ice should not be one of them. For the Mount Dora Ice Cream Stroll & Pup Walk, Longwood-based Glacial Ice & Water helped keep things cool, providing the ice needed for one of the community's sweetest events. For the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce, working with the company was refreshingly simple. Communication was quick, coordination was straightforward, and Glacial
Behind the Business: After Nearly 50 Years, Bob’s AC & Roofing Is Still Building Its Name Close to H
Nearly five decades after Bob’s Air Conditioning began serving Central Florida, the company is trying to solve an unusual problem for a business with that much history: making sure local residents know just how much it has changed. The company now known as Bob’s AC & Roofing has expanded beyond air conditioning to offer roofing, electrical work, gutters and generator services, giving homeowners one company to call for several of the major systems that keep a home comfortable, powered and protected. At
Behind the Business: At The Joint Chiropractic, Kevin Bock Says Success Starts With Showing Up
Walk into The Joint Chiropractic in Mount Dora and you do not need an appointment, a referral or even an insurance card. Located along U.S. 441 in Loch Leven Landing, The Joint offers walk-in chiropractic care seven days a week, with licensed chiropractors providing adjustments for patients seeking help with back and neck discomfort, headaches, stiffness, mobility concerns and other everyday aches and pains. The clinic also provides chiropractic care for different ages and stages of life, including
Behind the Business: Bear’s Beans & Bagels Is Growing — Without Losing the Family Feeling
Coffee may be in the name, but Bear’s Beans & Bagels has built its following on much more than a morning cup. Now with locations in Umatilla and Mount Dora, the locally owned shop serves handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks, cold brew, refreshers and specialty energy drinks alongside bagels, breakfast sandwiches, pastries and light lunch options. The menu has a playful personality of its own, with rotating specialty drinks, oversized creations and combinations that range from sweet, dessert-inspired
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Behind the Business: How Justina Briguglio Turned a Creative Side Hustle Into a Seat at the Table
For Justina Briguglio, a beautifully arranged charcuterie board has never been only about what is on it. It is about the people gathered around it. Long before Boujee Boards by Justina became a business, food and gathering were already closely connected in Justina’s life. Growing up in a large Italian family, antipasto was a familiar part of family get-togethers. Years later, while she was a stay-at-home mom looking for a creative way to help support her family, that appreciation for food,
Behind the Business: Christina Suarez Helps Clients Navigate Trauma, Grief and Life’s Hardest Moment
People do not usually seek out a mental health counselor because everything is going well. They come after a loss. After trauma. In the middle of anxiety that has become difficult to manage. Sometimes they are carrying the effects of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Other times, life has simply changed in a way they no longer know how to navigate on their own. Those are the moments Christina Suarez has built her career around. Christina Suarez, MA, LMHC, is the founder of Christina Suarez
Behind the Business: Howey Music Series Brings World-Class Music to Unexpected Places
A growing Lake County nonprofit is bringing classical and jazz performances into remarkable historic settings while building a stronger local audience for the arts. A concert hall does not always have to look like one. For Howey Music Series, it can be a historic mansion, an intimate room or another unexpected setting where the surroundings become part of the performance. The independent nonprofit presents professional classical and jazz concerts in communities with limited traditional arts
Behind the Business: Plugged Into Electronics Bridges the Past and Future of Tech in Eustis
Walk into Plugged Into Electronics in Eustis and you might feel like you have stepped into two different eras of technology. One side of the store leans into nostalgia, with original arcade machines, vintage electronics and physical media from a time when technology was something you owned, repaired and kept for years. Take a left, and you enter the store’s RadioShack side, stocked with electronics, components, refurbished audio and video equipment and the familiar RadioShack name generations once
Behind the Business: The Mount Dora CPA Bringing Bookkeeping and Tax Strategy Under One Roof
For many small-business owners, bookkeeping and taxes operate in two separate worlds. Transactions are categorized throughout the year—sometimes by the owner, sometimes by a bookkeeper—and then handed to a tax professional months later. By the time problems are discovered, the year is already over and many opportunities to make better financial or tax decisions have passed. Timothy LeGendre built his Mount Dora accounting practice to close that gap. Through Timothy LeGendre CPA LLC, he provides
Behind the Business: Riley Hoffer Helps Buyers Understand Mount Dora Before They Make the Move
For Riley Hoffer, helping someone relocate to the Mount Dora area starts long before the first home tour. Many buyers begin their search from another city or state, comparing listings, prices and square footage without fully understanding how the area’s communities differ or what everyday life will actually feel like once they arrive. Riley built her real estate business around closing that information gap. As a REALTOR® with Orange Slice Properties, she helps buyers navigate the homebuying process
Behind the Business: Merch Tent Media Helps Local Businesses Launch With More Impact
A business launch is more than a ribbon cutting. It is often the first big moment where a business introduces itself to the community, welcomes people in, and starts building visibility beyond its own walls. For Merch Tent Media, those moments matter — and they are working to help local businesses make the most of them. Based in Mount Dora, Merch Tent Media helps businesses tell their story through professional video, social media content, podcasts, branding, and branded merchandise. Their work is
Behind the Business: Sean and Shannon Murphy Take the Helm of Dora Queen
For Sean and Shannon Murphy, Dora Queen was not part of a long business plan. It was not something they set out to buy. It was not a carefully mapped-out next step. It was something Sean came across, felt drawn to, and could not stop thinking about. “I just stumbled across it and fell in love with it,” Sean said. Now, Sean and Shannon are the owners of Dora Queen, the 80-foot New Orleans-style paddlewheel boat that cruises across Lake Dora from Tavares Marina. Known for sunset cruises, afternoon rides,
Behind the Business: Halff and the Infrastructure Behind Everyday Life in Mount Dora
From clean water and wastewater treatment to stormwater solutions, surveying and landscape architecture, Halff’s local team helps turn complex engineering work into everyday community improvements.Business Snapshot Business: HalffFeatured Leader: Brett Tobias, Operations ManagerIndustry: Infrastructure Consulting / EngineeringLocal Focus: Water, sewer and stormwater projects; surveying; topographic mapping; landscape architectureWebsite: Halff.comSocial Media: LinkedIn, Instagram @wearehalff,
Behind The Business: eSportsPhoto Helping Events Get Seen, Shared, and Remembered
For Byron Faudie, photography has never been only about taking a picture. It is about catching the moment an athlete crosses a finish line. The expression on someone’s face when they see their photo seconds after it was taken. The laughter inside a photo booth. The energy of a red-carpet-style event. The sign that helps people find where they are going. The banner that makes a sponsor, team, organization, or business stand out. That is the work behind eSportsPhoto, Byron’s sports, event, photo
Behind The Business: Shockwave Threads Grew From A Father-Son Project Into A Mount Dora Print Studio
Before Shockwave Threads had a storefront, expanded services, or a growing list of local customers, it started at home. For two years, Dan Spohn ran the custom apparel business from his house with help from his son, Michael, who has autism. What began as a creative outlet and a way to bring Michael’s ideas to life eventually became a business built around custom shirts, hats, embroidery, apparel printing, and design work for the community around them. “We are rooted in autism,” Dan said. “It’s the
Behind the Business: Expedia Cruises Mount Dora Helps Travelers Navigate Air, Land and Sea
For many travelers, planning a vacation starts with excitement — then quickly turns into questions. Where should we go? Which cruise line is the right fit? Is the deal actually a deal? What happens if plans change? And in an increasingly complicated travel landscape, how do you know who to trust? That is where Expedia Cruises Mount Dora comes in. Located at 18778 US Hwy 441 in Mount Dora, Expedia Cruises Mount Dora is a full-service travel agency helping customers plan vacations by air, land and sea.
Behind the Business: Lewis Home & Bridal Helping Brides Feel Fantastic in Mount Dora
Behind the Business: Lewis Home & Bridal Helping Brides Feel Fantastic in Mount Dora Behind the Business: Lewis Home & BridalTailoring Wedding Days, Formal Moments, and One-of-a-Kind Fits in Mount Dora Business Name: Lewis Home & BridalOwner: Deb LewisLocation: 777 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora, FL 32757Website: lewishomeandbridal.comSocial: @LewisHomeandBridal About the Business Lewis Home & Bridal helps brides, bridal parties, and formalwear clients look and feel their best through professional
Behind the Business: Waterman Village Outpatient Therapy Helping People Move Better, Feel Stronger,
Behind the Business: Waterman Village Outpatient Therapy Helping People Move Better, Feel Stronger, and Live More Independently in Mount Dora Business Name: Waterman Village Outpatient TherapyLocation: 130 Waterman Avenue, Suite B, Mount Dora, FloridaWebsite: watermanvillage.com/outpatient-therapySocial:Facebook About the BusinessWaterman Village Outpatient Therapy helps people move better, feel stronger, and live more independently through personalized outpatient therapy and specialized support
Behind the Business: Set In Stone Monuments Crafting Lasting Tributes with Care and Precision
Behind the Business: Set In Stone Monuments Crafting Lasting Tributes with Care and Precision in Mount Dora Business Name: Set In Stone Monuments Sales Manager: Allison Bland Location: 3001 N Hwy 19A, Mount Dora, Florida Website: https://setinstonefl.comSocial: @SetInStoneMonuments About the Business Set In Stone Monuments is a custom monument company specializing in the design, craftsmanship, and installation of granite memorials that serve as lasting tributes to loved
Behind the Business: Alexis Adapts Helping Parents Advocate for Their Children
Behind the Business: Alexis Adapts Helping Parents Advocate for Their Children Business Name: AlexisAdaptsFounder: Alexis JandreauLocation: Mount Dora, FloridaSocial:Facebook • Instagram • TikTok • LinkedIn About the Business Alexis Adapts is a Mount Dora–based advocacy and coaching service dedicated to helping parents better support their children—both in school and at home. Founder Alexis Jandreau works as an IEP Advocate and Parent Coach, guiding parents through the special
Behind The Business: Ernst Financial Solutions Helping Clients Eliminate Debt and Build Financial Clarity
Behind The Business: Ernst Financial Solutions Helping Clients Build Intentional Financial Plans Financial Coaching and Speaking Focused on Habits, Accountability, and Long-Term Goals Business Name: Ernst Financial Solutions, LLCOwner: Jesse ErnstLocation: Mount Dora, FloridaWebsite: https://www.ernstfinancialsolutions.com About the Business Ernst Financial Solutions is a financial coaching and speaking practice that helps individuals, couples, and small business owners create clear
Behind The Business: Karen Marshall Health Coaching – Supporting Natural Wellness in Mount Dora
Behind The Business: Karen Marshall Health Coaching – Supporting Natural Wellness in Mount Dora Business Name: Karen Marshall Health CoachingOwner & Head Carpenter: Karen Marshall Location: Mount Dora, FloridaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.marshall.37201901 Email:karenm4health@gmail.com Karen Marshall Health Coaching is focused on helping individuals achieve their health goals through a blend of homeopathic and herbal-based natural products, paired with healthy eating plans
Behind the Business: Crafted In Florida Building Custom By Hand – That’s Built to Last – in Mount Dora
Behind the Business: Crafted In Florida Custom Woodwork Built by Hand — and Built to Last Business Name: Crafted In FloridaOwner & Head Carpenter: Micah Robinson Location: Mount Dora, Florida Website: https://craftedinflorida.com/Social: @Crafted_in_Florida About the Business Crafted In Florida is a custom woodworking business specializing in one-of-a-kind woodwork designed specifically for each client and space. The company creates custom cabinetry, built-ins, furniture, and detailed
Behind The Business: Walk in the Woods Bringing Sustainable Style to Downtown Mount Dora
Behind The Business: Walk in the Woods Bringing Sustainable Style to Downtown Mount Dora Walk in the Woods Offering Eco-Conscious Style in the Heart of Mount Dora Business Name: Walk in the WoodsOwners: Dana and Stephen RoccaLocation: 523 N Donnelly Street, Suite 112 (Historic Mardi Gras Building), Mount DoraWebsite:https://www.shopwalkinthewoods.comAbout the Business Walk in the Woods is a beloved Mount Dora outfitter specializing in eco-conscious clothing, footwear and accessories from thoughtfully
Behind The Business: Mail-Express is Mount Dora’s One-Stop Shop for Shipping, Printing, and Business
Mail-Express is Mount Dora’s One-Stop Shop for Shipping, Printing, and Business Services For Mount Dora residents and businesses looking for convenience, reliability, and personalized service, Mail-Express delivers it all in one place. Owned and operated by Lanette and Bob Scantlin, this locally owned business provides professional packing, shipping, printing, and essential business services designed to save customers time and simplify everyday tasks. Located in the Mount Dora Marketplace Plaza,
Behind The Business: Worthwhile Therapy Helping Mount Dora Build Healthier Lives Through Connection
Helping Mount Dora Build Healthier Lives Through ConnectionPresented by the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce – spotlighting local businesses that strengthen our community through leadership, service, and connection. Worthwhile Therapy, LLC is a Mount Dora–based mental health and behavioral therapy practice serving individuals, couples, and families of all ages. Founded by Leslie Worth, PhD, LMFT, CST, NCC, the practice was created to provide compassionate, evidence-based care while expanding access
