These days, Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce President Marion Smith is trying to help the local business scene. She aims to bring businesses to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World and, once they’re rooted, help them grow.
The idea of keeping business thriving in a small town in Florida may seem difficult to some. But Smith has had other challenges in her career to prepare her for where she’s at now. She got her start in the male-dominated automotive sales industry and found success.
FORESEEING THE FUTURE
Smith was born in Italy, but lived there for only six months. Her father, Mac, was in the United States Navy at the time, and the family then relocated to Plant City. They ended up staying.
“My folks are still in the same house that I grew up in,” Smith says.
Her father and grandfather started an American Motors dealership in town, off of what is now James L. Redman Parkway.
“You can just see all the changes that have happened,” Smith says. “When my grandfather and my dad picked the property where they built the American Motors franchise, it’s where RaceTrac is now. There was nothing between Alsobrook Street and that piece of property. But I guess they saw that the growth was gonna go that way.”
Smith attended the University of Florida to get a degree in criminal justice. But her father doubted she would stick with it. He encouraged her to enroll in business classes.
It was then that she first broke into the automotive sales industry, where she remained until 2001.
IN A MAN’S WORLD
After switching majors at UF, Smith started working for an American Motors dealer in Gainesville. She later attended the National Auto Dealers Academy. While there, she realized just how rare women in the industry were.
“There were two other ladies in the class, and we’ve remained friends all these years,” she says.
When she graduated, in 1982, Smith returned to Plant City to work with her family. She was tasked with starting finance and insurance departments. Eventually, she moved up to sales.
“It was challenging,” Smith says. “You would have the guys coming on the lot, wanting you to explain what an engine was. Well, heck, I didn’t know what it was either. But my dad made the comment to me. He goes, ‘Marion, you don’t need to know all that stuff. The people just want a good deal on a car. You give them the numbers, and that’s all they really want.’ And that was true.”
She put the lessons learned to the test and, over time, excelled at her job. The lot became a Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge/Jeep dealer when Chrysler bought up several manufacturers, and Smith had a Dodge franchise in her name by 1990.
“At that time, you didn’t have many women in the car business,” Smith says. “It was very rare.”
She sold the dealership in March of 2001 to transition into her current role.
STILL HERE
Smith first got involved with the chamber in 1989, by volunteering whenever she had time. She scaled back in 1990, to launch her Dodge dealership, but knew that she wanted to return to volunteering.
Selling the dealership allowed her to jump in, perhaps in a bigger role than she thought.
“The president of the hired staff left the chamber,” Smith says. “Fred Johnson was in charge of the search committee at the time, and he approached me, if I would just fill in until they found a president. I’m still here.”
She’s headed the chamber for the last 14 years, currently working with a staff of six employees. Of all the accomplishments she’s seen in that span, the jump in community involvement is at the top of her list.
“When I joined in ’01, there wasn’t a whole lot of volunteer involvement,” she says. “What really made the difference was the board of directors.”
She’s currently looking forward to partnering with the Plant City Economic Development Corp., to help businesses thrive. Smith will stick by the principles she learned from her family and used in the auto sales industry.
“Treat everybody as an equal,” she says. “Everybody puts on their pants the same way. It kind of goes back to John 3:16, how would you want to be treated? I’ve found that to be true in the car business, and any business.”
About Marion
Who is your hero?
My parents, Mac and Cookie Smith.
Use three words to describe yourself.
Friendly, reliable and dependable.
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I get a second wind at night. Obviously, I have to be a morning person with the chamber. You could say I’m both. I try to go to bed by 11 p.m., at the latest, and I usually get up at 5 a.m.
What is the weirdest food you’ve tried?
The thought of eating liver makes me nauseous.
What message would you put in a fortune cookie?
Be the best that you can be.
Tips for success?
• Treat people fairly and equally.
• Listen to what people are saying.
• Surround yourself with good people.
— Justin Kline