Introduction
As Managing Partner of Dimmitt Chevrolet, Liz Dimmitt has her hands full. Yet this relentlessly creative Pinellas County native has an extensive background as a “cultural strategist,” too, working with companies, cities, brands and individuals to create unique cultural programming, events and experiences. It is her passion. Her hometown project is a 12,000-square-foot immersive, interactive, Florida-themed art "experience called Fairgrounds, which will open in 2021 inside the Factory, the massive (six acres) Warehouse Arts District complex. “It’s a place where you go with your family and have fun all day, and play, and experience the cool, wild and wonderful things about Florida,” Dimmitt says. “So it really is a modern-day fairgrounds.”
Years in St. Pete
Born and raised in Dunedin. After 18 years in NYC, I have been back for 2 years working in St. Pete and living in Belleair.
Organizations involved in
I personally work with The Factory St. Pete, Love IV Lawrence, Tampa Museum of Art, St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts, Sarasota Museum of Art, and am on the board of the Zoo Tampa Foundation. Fairgrounds is working and collaborating with St. Pete Arts Alliance, Keep St. Pete Lit, Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, OK! Transmit, CODAworx, Behar + Peteranecz Architecture, Consortium for Research and Robotics, American Stage Theatre Company and many more to come.
What gets you out of bed every day?
Getting to work alongside and learn from the teams at Fairgrounds and Dimmitt Chevy. No two of my days look the same, and I love that! I’m grateful to support these teams in the work we do.
Why St. Pete?
We chose to base Fairgrounds in St. Pete because of its dynamic and thriving creative community. We have wonderful city leadership that values and supports the arts. I am continually impressed with the “how can I help” spirit of local government, business leaders and the creative community. We’re also committed to supporting the arts community in Tampa Bay as a whole.
What is one habit that you keep?
Writing thank you notes.
Who are some people that influence you?
Our team at Fairgrounds! I learn from them and laugh with them every day! Other influencers of mine include Kristen Shepherd and Katherine Pill of the Museum of Fine Art St. Pete, Dr. Hank Hine at the Dalí, my husband Piers Davies, artist Katee Tully, Susana Weymouth of the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, my sister Mallory Dimmitt, Kara and Jordan Behar of Behar Peteranecz Architecture; poet Helen Wallace, philanthropist and business leaders Lorna Taylor, St, Pete city council members Darden Rice and Gina Driscoll, John Collins of the St. Pete Arts Alliance and my parents Vevie and Lawrence Dimmitt.
What is one piece of insight - a book, methodology, practice - that you would share with our readers?
Gratitude is what I focus on in times of stress or difficulty. Brené Brown is my guru of choice at the moment. Her focus on vulnerability, connection and having hard conversations are especially helpful to me. Two of my favorite quotes in “Rising Strong” and “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown respectively, “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” And “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”
What is one thing you wish you knew about your work 3 years ago?
To be honest, to have a pandemic plan! Three years ago having a pandemic plan was not something I would’ve ever imagined needing. As the CEO of Fairgrounds and Managing Partner of Dimmitt Chevy, it continues to be my main priority to keep my staff and customers safe. It means being prepared, pivoting and being on top of what’s happening in our local community.
What’s next?
Opening Fairgrounds to the public in early 2021 and inviting them to explore our artist made world. Creating a place and space like this has been a dream of mine for many years, I’m elated to bring it to St. Pete very soon.
