The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce President announced her plans to retire at a Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17.
In May 2001, Marion Smith took over as interim president for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, which at that time was undergoing structure changes.
But Smith, a 1980 graduate of the University of Florida, never left. For the next 15 years, she worked tirelessly and diligently as the Chamber’s president. As president, Smith focused her efforts on creating a strong bond between the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, the City of Plant City and the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
On Thursday, Dec. 17, Smith announced at a Board of Directors meeting her plans to retire on May 27, 2016.
“It’s time, it really is,” Smith said. “May will be 15 years and I think it’s time that I step aside.”
Though Smith’s official retirement isn’t until May, one of the Chamber’s biggest tasks lies ahead: finding the perfect candidate to fill her 15-year legacy.
A native of Naples, Italy, Smith’s family moved to Plant City before her first birthday. After receiving her business degree, she returned to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World to work in her family’s automobile business.
Smith attended the National Automobile Dealer Association Candidate’s School in 1983. In 1989, she took over B.M. Smith Motors Inc. and had the Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Jeep franchises. B.M. Smith Motors Inc. was in Smith’s family for 53 years before it was sold in March 2001.
That same year, Smith stepped into the open Chamber president position. Her name was one that people throughout Plant City recognized. In addition to her success in the automobile industry, Smith was a previous president of the Junior Woman’s Club, a Woman Achievement Award recipient and a previous chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Michael Cameron, the current chairman for the Chamber’s Board of Directors, admires Smith for her leadership style and her ability to get things done.
“She’s been a good asset for us,” Cameron said. “I hate to see her go. I’m excited for her going forward. We’re certainly going to miss her leadership.”
Cameron describes Smith as a “smooth operator” with a can-do attitude.
“There wasn’t any question of, ‘Will it work?” Cameron said. “She’s not flamboyant about it. She downplays what she does and doesn’t hog the limelight. She just quietly gets things done.”
Smith attributes much of her success as Chamber president to the team that she has worked with.
“Everything’s good at the Chamber,” Smith said. “We have a healthy, working relationship. We have a mutual respect for one another.”
Throughout her years at the Chamber, the common goal of al participants, Smith said, is to find the best way to serve the community.
“To me, it’s not one person that has made the Chamber what it is,” Smith said. “It’s a team effort.t I can’t say enough about the staff. It’s just been amazing. I’ll miss the people.”
Among her accomplishments, Smith has added many events to Plant City’s annual calendar, and helped others grow, including Pig Jam, the Buy Local campaign, Margarita Ball, Chamber Contact breakfasts and more.
After she retires in May, Smith plans to travel. She will also begin working with her family’s real estate holding company, KDM Associates.
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce has started a preliminary search to find Smith’s replacement. A search committee may be formed to find the perfect candidate.
“Every organization looks for that perfect leader going forward,” Cameron said. “She’s going to be a hard one to replace.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
