Introduction
There are few people in St Petersburg who wield as much Influence as Bill Edwards. He's put his resources behind some of the biggest initiatives in downtown St Pete. The Sundial, Mahaffey Theatre, Rowdies/Al Lang and the Tropicana Block headline his roster of projects. His resources also flow to non-profits, both directly and through the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts - many of which never get widely publicized. Bill makes few public appearances. His enigmatic communication style juxtaposed with his wealth and major projects make him a subject of fascination for many. What we hope to believe is that Bill is a that rare breed of businessman philanthropist whose passion for St Pete drives his vision and his resources to invest both in financial and civic return. In our brief interview for this Influencer, we found that to be true. We look forward to bringing you a deeper connection to Mr. Edwards in future content.
Years in St. Pete
35
Organizations involved in
Bill Edwards Foundation, Museum of Fine Arts, American Heart Association amongst others.
What gets you out of bed every day?
The rooster. I just get up – I get up at 6 and work dawn to dark. I’m still active, I’m still excited and I love working.
Why St. Pete?
It’s the best place on the Earth. It’s a beautiful place. It’s magnificent. I’ve been all over the world and I’ve never found a place quite this quaint and quite this nice.
What is one habit that you keep?
God, I hate habits. I guess my habit is that I try to do the best I can every day for my family and my community.
Who are some people that influence you?
I’m truly not influenced by other people. I kind of march to my own beat.
What is one piece of insight - a book, methodology, practice - that you would share with our readers?
Never give up. Always do it right. Whenever in doubt, do the right thing.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your work 3 years ago?
How hard it would be. My work is new every day – that’s what I love about it. There are new challenges every day and challenges are something I enjoy trying to solve.
What’s next?
Who knows. When I find out, you’ll find out.
