“persistance wears down resistance”

Profile: Timothy Bogott — Philanthropist and CEO
of Tradewinds Island Resort


Persistence and commitment are virtues by which Timothy Bogott has made a significant impact on Tampa Bay’s business scene. Most widely known for his role as CEO of Tradewinds Island Resort, the husband and father of three, attributes much of his success to the diligence instilled in him as a child, while working on his family’s dairy farm.

“I learned the value of hard work, commitment and doing what needed to be done from a very early age,” Bogott said.

A small town native, Bogott grew up in Sterling, Ill., about 100 miles west of the Chicago loop. After moving to Lee County, Fla., he put together a group of already resort savvy investors who would acquire Tradewinds and develop the property into the success it is today.

“I felt that Tradewinds was a large enough property that I should be here,” Bogott said. “So we decided to move to St. Petersburg.”

Tampa Bay, Bogott says, is a community diverse enough in both amenity and philanthropy to harbor a broad base of business activity. World class beaches and pristine waterfronts are only part of the allure, as Bogott notes Tampa Bay’s sports facilities, cultural institutions and charitable organizations as foundations upon which businesses thrive.
“It has a good range of amenities,” Bogott said. “It’s a good mix of ingredients for a great community.”

Beyond his business expertise, Bogott knows firsthand the value of community ties in correlation to business expansion. His most prominent roles include chairman of the budget committee for the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council, board member of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, and trustee of both the Dalí Museum and Academy Prep Center for Education.

“I think business has an obligation to be involved and try to make the community a better place to live for everybody,” Bogott said. “I also think that being involved in the community is good for business. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement for everybody.”

Both a devoted humanitarian and keen businessman, Bogott’s character extends far beyond the functions of his career. Husband, father and grandfather are his most important roles, as family is his biggest inspiration. His wife, Anje, once gave him advice in the form of the small catch phrase, “persistence wears down resistance,” which Bogott has since taken as guiding words by which to live.

“My wife gave me that phrase early in our relationship,” he said. “I’ve referred to it often over my life.”

Whether to those just starting out in the business world, or seasoned veterans in the complexities of commerce, Bogott’s advice is uniform. He puts it in the form of another little catch phrase, “necessity is the mother of invention,” which he translates as doing what is necessary to improve one’s life and accomplish what one must accomplish in order to be successful.

“Set high goals for what you want for your life,” he said. “Be committed and persistent in achieving them. Have faith that you can do it and keep working at it. Persistence wears down resistance.”

—Maria Douaihy