Gwendolyn Reese: The Culture of St. Petersburg

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This conversation with Gwendolyn Reese was originally published in the 2021 Downtown Development Guide.

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Gwendolyn Reese

President and CEO of Peaten Reese Peaten Consulting, Inc.

How long have you lived in St. Petersburg and what brought you to St. Petersburg?

I was born and raised in St. Petersburg. I lived in the Gas Plant District. Though I have traveled the world, I have always chosen to make this my home.

What are the key business factors you see as strengths for starting your company in St. Petersburg?

My business has been around over 20 years and it is just wonderful; I am able to do work here that aligns with my ethics, my purpose and my passion. This is a good place for businesses large and small. Ethnicity of the business owner does not determine their clientele. There is such a diversity within the population that there are not too many businesses you could conceive of and not find a customer base. The businesses support and refer one another. Greater Downtown retail owners are welcoming, with a, “Come on in, neighbor,” policy.

What are the key lifestyle factors you see as strengths for St. Petersburg?

There’s a lot to be said about St. Pete. We have the kind of climate that is conducive to being outdoors nearly all year long. We have become a nationally recognized arts destination and a mecca of sorts for those who love the arts. The access to live plays, the orchestra, museums is just incredible. It feeds that arts and culture hunger that so many people have. We are a tourist attraction and hearing the mix of accents from those visiting from all over the world is just music to my ears.

Tell me about the culture of the city.

St. Pete has been declared a City of Compassion and a City of Peace. We have an ever-growing LGBTQ community. We were the first city in the country that
raised a flag in honor of Black History Month. Our combination of elected leadership and organizations coming together has led to a wonderful coming together of culture. The people here connect in ways that are open and authentic. We don’t deal with the overt racism in our community that many areas of the country are experiencing. We have a community-wide awakening to the importance of understanding what’s happening now, why from a historical perspective and how to move forward.

What do you see looking ahead into St. Petersburg’s future?

St. Pete is open and honest regarding what is here and what we need to work on. What makes us progressive is that we are moving towards unity. The government and the people have a real desire to get beyond the things that have caused inequities in our community. My work here is challenging but it has shown me that St. Pete is a place that is sincerely attempting to be aware and address equity and inclusivity. I believe we have reached a critical mass where more people want us to be a more inclusive community and are willing to put in the work to get there. My city gives me hope.

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