Introduction
St. Pete native Beth Ann Drake is giving St. Pete its much-deserved close-up. Drake is the publisher of St. Pete Life Magazine, a local publication that just celebrated its first birthday. She's taking the publishing experience she garnered from the Tampa Tribune and the luxury pages of Dupont Registry to her own glossy lifestyle magazine. St. Pete Life Magazine is issued bi-monthly and delivered to 20,000+ homes. Hear what's next for this budding publication.
Years in St. Pete
Born and raised.
Organizations involved in
Heels to Heal, Children’s Cancer Center, Leukemia/Lymphoma Society
What gets you out of bed every day?
My dogs and my kids! Opportunity: I love waking up and being excited about what can happen that day. Especially as a new magazine in this marketplace, we’ve just scratched the surface.
Why St. Pete?
St. Pete (in a good way) is the perfect storm. This marketplace has been making national headlines for all of the right reasons. It’s on fire growth-wise but its smart growth. There are so many checks and balances – like the Preservation society – that is perfectly willing to speak up if they think things are getting out of hand. St. Pete has the strongest sense of community.
What is one habit that you keep?
Admiral McRaven made this speech, and in part of his speech he said, “Make your bed every day.” So when I get up in the morning, when my feet hit the floor I make my bed. Because no matter how bad your day is, at the end of the day you made your bed.
Who are some people that influence you?
I’ve been really lucky to work for people I can learn from. I worked for 6 years at Dupont Registry, and that place is still my family. But there are kids who have influenced me in huge ways. Leukemia/Lymphoma society does a huge charity event and they always choose a boy and a girl of the year that are fighting cancer. The first year I got involved, the kids of the year were the exact same age as my son and my daughter, and they had the best attitude.
What is one piece of insight - a book, methodology, practice - that you would share with our readers?
In this last year, I’ve become very aware of being thankful for one thing every day.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your work 3 years ago?
I wish that I had started this magazine three years ago.
What’s next?
We’re in growth mode, in year one. Next level we will probably be going monthly. Right now we are every other month.
