June 18, 2013

Florida Newsmakers of the Year

Business - Florida Newsmakers of the Year

Mike Vogel | 1/1/2011

• LOLA GONZALEZ
Owner, Accurate Background Check - Ocala

Lola Gonzalez
[Photo: Jeffrey Camp]
Taking the fall for her employees

"Don't let your employee go and then give yourself a bonus," says Lola Gonzalez, owner of Accurate Background Check, an employee screening firm. In 2010, amid declining revenue, Gonzalez stopped taking a salary rather than fire one of her eight employees. Gonzalez, of course, retained ownership of the business and manages it while juggling two jobs to make ends meet: Community facilitator and "mitigation specialist" — researching the background of clients facing the death penalty to find circumstances that might cause a judge to be lenient. Her death penalty work is featured in a Yale University Press book. Her business, meanwhile, she says is "doing well."


Business
Mark Wilson
Wilbur Ross Jr.
Lola Gonzalez
John Textor
Robert Clements
Thomas Gaffney
Hugh Green
R.J. Scaringe
Foreclosure Fighters
Julian MacQueen

Politics
Mel Martinez & The Dominoes

Military
Florida's Fallen Soldiers

Education
Frank Brogan
Maryellen Elia

Science/Innovation
Win Phillips & David Day
Ian MacDonald & William Hogarth

Environment
Extreme Temperatures

CRITTERS
Mystery Monkey

Sports
Tampa Bay Rays' Top Brass
Pat Riley

Volunteer/Non-Profit
Barth Green

Arts/Entertainment
New World Symphony
Pitbull
Pamela Tuscany

Dubious Achievers
Scott Rothstein
David Brooks

Jim Greer
Wayne McLeod
Lewis Freeman
Pawl Hawks
Lee Farkas

Tags: Business Services

Florida Business News

Florida Trend Video Pick

Brevard couple sails around the world in 14.5 years
Brevard couple sails around the world in 14.5 years

To paraphrase a popular 1960’s TV theme song, just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale of a fateful trip. But instead of a three-hour boat tour, it took Rick and Suza Goltz of Cape Canaveral 14 and a half years to sail around the world.

Earlier Videos

Ballot Box

Florida Democrats are saying Gov. Rick Scott will be easy to beat in 2014. Do you agree with that statement?

  • Yes
  • No

See Results

Ballot Box
Register