Mark Moberg considers himself a Florida native. Sure, the South Tampa photographer hailed from Minnesota originally but he moved here at age three and says his friends would certainly call him a native because after all, “I do know every back way to a restaurant or shop there is.” 
 

Mark has been lugging around the cameras, extra flash bulbs and equipment since…well, since he was about seven years old. He’s a second generation photographer, helping out his dad as a young boy and watching him hard at work. He would serve as an extra set of hands (albeit smaller ones) and it helped introduce him to the business of photography. But it wasn’t until he started experimenting with making his own pinhole camera as a young Scout that he discovered a true passion for the art. “The process of photography and watching something just appear on your paper was such a fascinating process to me,” says the 46-year-old. “And photography is somewhat introspective since you’ve got to have an idea of what you want to do. You can’t just sit back and be uninvolved to get interesting photographs. You’ve got to find those photographs and be ready for them when you do.”
 

Brian’s frequently found himself knee-deep in entrepreneurship for most of his life. When he was 15 years old, he was working in restaurants and soon after he was developing his own chain of Mexican restaurants. After getting his MBA and working with major gasoline corporations, Brian soon found himself with what he describes as “one foot in the corporate world and one foot in the entrepreneurial world at all times.” So the Washington DC native raised in Southeast Florida born with a knack for business ventured into a line of work revolving around entrepreneurship: business brokering. “My world was filled with entrepreneurs, amazing people who were innovative and creative,” he says. “As a business intermediary, I can help transition ownership of businesses, find banks for people to finance purchasing a company and educate people about owning a business.”

Maurice remembers exactly when the entrepreneurial bug bit him: he was 12 and earned $1500 one summer cutting grass. After years of running successful real estate companies and building a solid background in sales and marketing, he was itching to do more. “I wrote my vision on a piece of paper 10 years ago for how I could bring helpful information from the for-profit arena to non-profits to help them become self sufficient,” he says. Earlier this year, he launched that vision: the SafeZone Pass (safezonepass.com). Every time a non-profit sells the $45 business discount card or refers a vendor who enrolls, it receives a third or more of the proceeds. The self-described social entrepreneur calls it a win-win for businesses and non-profits. “Companies get extra exposure and charities get the opportunity to grow,” he says.

What does Maurice like most about skirt!?

“It’s such an informative resource, and I love what you’re doing to support women in business.”

Sure, Dusty Showers is in the pest and wildlife removal business (and yes, that is his real name). But what makes Dusty unique is his other highly specialized service he provides to Westchase parents and children: monster removal. Through Creepy Creatures (creepycreatures.net), Dusty will discuss with families what kind of pesky monsters are lurking under beds or in dark closets and then proceed to “remove” the frightening interloper, easing the minds of younger family members who can return to peaceful sleep. “When I was young, I was terrified by alligators and dinosaurs in my room,” the father of two says. “It’s tough if kids can’t get over their fears.” In his free time, Dusty can usually be found on a soccer field or taking part in breast cancer charity events for Viva Las Chicas (vivalaschicas.com) and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

What does Dusty like most about skirt!?

It started in a North Carolina cabin. “I wanted to email a video file that AOL said was too big and thought ‘if only I could just paste it rather than attach it.’ I called up my IT buddy and we started brainstorming,” Bob says. The result, video email technology, is the core of TalkFusion (talkfusion.com), the company for which Bob is CEO and founder. As business grew and Bob continued to expand his family of rescued pets including Bindi (below left) and Shadow (right), Bob became concerned about the overwhelming overpopulation of unwanted animals. In 2008, Bob donated 325 assembled Kurinda dog beds which he hand-delivered to a Hillsborough County Commissioners meeting with a personal pledge to donate TalkFusion’s marketing technology and services to support Hillsborough’s efforts to reduce animal euthanasia. “Each year, 20,000 companion animals are put to sleep in the county, the highest percentage in Florida. It’s an awareness problem. We want to make a difference.”

Matthew has always considered himself an entertainer. “I was the one to make the class laugh and distract others,” he says. Twenty years later, the St. Pete native still loves performing as a solo artist, frontman for bands Fall on Purpose and Polka Cowboyz, actor, stand-up comedic performer and children’s songwriter. Why so many creative outlets? “It gives me a lot of freedom, and I didn’t really know how to pick just one way to express myself,” he says. Matthew also can be spotted locally on his UPS route, even turning the job into a catchy tribute, “Man in Brown.”  As Fall on Purpose launches a new album this fall, Matthew looks ahead to a future ripe with possibilities including more live concert appearances and further exploration of the movie industry. “I love being able to perform,” he says. “I’m keeping an open mind to all opportunities.”

Tampa businessman Greg Todd (center) knows his talents. “I’m a social butterfly and good at bringing people together,” he says. He, along with colleagues Fernando Juan (left), Rich Mize (right) and nearly 40 other local professionals, make up the Bullioneers (bullioneers.com), comprised of men from across the Tampa Bay area who came together because of a shared passion for sports.

I am a male Feminist because ...

“... I am the son, father, husband, and co-host to five of the most influential people in my life. All are magnificent women. To underestimate the power, drive or intelligence of anyone, and what they can teach you, is simply foolish.”

Fifteen years ago, it started as a baker’s dozen of successful men hosting parties to mingle. But 13 Ugly Men (13uglymen.com) has evolved into a foundation comprised of 27 members that has donated more than $400,000 to local charities since 2000. The group hosts six major fundraisers a year including signature events such as the Original White Party and New Year’s Eve Resolution Ball, and consists of members spanning a variety of ages and professions.