Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 4-2-21

Features
Fitness Guru’s Goal Is To Make Workouts Fun And Long Lasting
KIMBERLY POITIER ... Kimist Fitness Owner
New LIT Cigar And Martini Lounge Is Owner’s Dream Come True
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Kourtney Pina has always been a star per- former. When she started at Hooters at the ten- der age of 19 years old, she quickly displayed drive and ingenuity to become a corporate trainer. When Hooters incorporated liquor into their business model, Pina trained servers and managers, and opened several locations.
At the same time, after graduating from Brandon High School, Pina went to University of Tampa. She transferred to the University of South Florida (USF) and graduated with a soci- ology and criminal justice degree.
Pina then took on the tremendous task of launching the Hooters catering division which is still successful to this day.
When Hooters began catering at Tropicana Field, Pina designed the menus and catering functions. Hooters is the only outside catering business allowed at Tropicana.
After accomplishing this major task, Pina decided to switch careers and started bartending at the original LIT. Realizing that it was a “man cave,” Pina started exploring how to make the cigar lounge more accessible to women.
One of the things that Pina did was bring in hookahs, which turned out to be highly success- ful with women. Then athletes and celebs began showing up.
Soon thereafter, she and LIT co-owner Bryan Prieto began to throw exclusive, luxury pool parties at Aloft. The parties blew up and confirmed to Pina and Prieto that they had the audience for a larger space. The previous loca- tion of LIT was a tiny space on Channelside. They needed a lot more space to execute their business plan.
LIT ended up being closed for three years. It was Pina’s belief and trust in God that kept her on the path to reopen a newer and better LIT.
Pina traveled all over the country to scout other locations and see what she liked. She brought back a little something from every club she loved and incorporated into her new busi-
KOURTNEY PINA ...
Co-Owner of LIT Cigar and Martini Lounge
ness.
She wanted it to be different than other en-
tertainment locations in Tampa. They decided to merge the idea of a Martini lounge along with a late-night club to have the best of both worlds.
Pina believes in giving back to Tampa. As a Black Cape Verdean woman with an Italian busi- ness partner, Pina wants to build more than a club, she wants the community to see her as a partner in the improvement in the community.
Pina is also a licensed real estate agent, and she still handles a few A-List clients. As a single mother of two, Pina spends time with her chil- dren and at church. She attends the Love First Christian Center and credits God with bringing her through difficult times.
Pina spends a lot of time spreading the Word of God and bringing the Word to others.
The new location opened in January and was the spot for the Super Bowl crowds.
The club is now located at 908 N. Franklin Street.
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Kimberly Poitier says she is the "fun fitness" trainer and wellness coach. The enthusias- tic fitness guru is growing her mission – fun fitness for ever- yone.
The native Tampan grew up cheerleading and dancing. She is the daughter of Frank and Flora Wynn Poitier and the niece of Doretha Edgecomb.
After graduating from King High School, she got married and moved to Fort Myers where she taught kindergarten. After getting a divorce, she moved back to Tampa.
Poitier has been a wellness coach for many years and is an accredited instructor and trai- ner in many subject areas, in- cluding the ACE Group for fitness training and Zumba,
IDEA Health and Fitness for boot camp training, extreme intervals and bodyweight trai- ning, nutrition, and exercise training.
She is also accredited by Na- tional Academy of Sports Me- dicine (NASM) for a multitude of fitness areas.
Poitier is deeply passionate about her clients’ health and wants them to feel the best they can. She has classes for all needs including classes such as Zumbarribean, cardioSCULPT, Kimist Boot Kamp, and BAN- GIN' Body chair workout for seniors. She states that fitness is so much more than exercise, it is a mindset and affects every aspect of life.
Poitier also provides an easy-to-follow Meal Plan and an 8-week “Jumpstart” trai- ning on Zoom. She is also a Wellness Coach at Bob Gilbert- son Central City Family YMCA and works in several programs and at several assistance living locations.
“Get healthy and stay he- althy and get fit and stay fit” is her motto. She doesn’t just offer programs to lose weight and take weight off, she wants her clients to stay that way. As long as work outs are fun, you are more likely to keep doing it. “Just have fun!”
To contact Ms. Poitier, go to https://www.kimist-fit- ness.com or call 239-281- 4080.
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