mary Mary Demetree2012 Business Owner of the Year Winner
14th Annual Women Who Mean Business Awards

Mary L. Demetree
President and Owner
Demetree Real Estate Services, Inc.
1350 Orange Avenue, Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32789
407.422.8191

Business Accomplishments
Mary Demetree is the president and owner of Demetree Real Estate Services, Inc.  A native Floridian, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1981.  At that time she began her career with Demetree Builders as executive vice president and chief operating officer before buying the company and assuming her current role.

Directing all aspects of the multi-million dollar enterprise, her responsibilities include developing commercial tracts of land and as a licensed real estate broker, analyzing real estate investments, overseeing property management and leasing departments.  Through this tough economic environment Mary remains focused on long term strategies for commercial and land development through smart business initiatives and targeted online marketing including enhanced Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing to reach qualified buyers and provide savvy real estate solutions.

The Demetree companies have been involved in a myriad of real estate and construction projects throughout the United States – including the Radisson Hotel and the Marriott Courtyard at the University of Central Florida, Orlando; Collegiate Village Center, Woodlake Villas Apartments, and Aloma Shopping Center all in Orlando; Cypress Lake Hotel, Fort Myers, Florida; Carlton Arms Apartments and Southgate Shopping Center; Lakeland Florida; Holiday Inn Downtown, Washington, D.C.; and College Station Mall, College Station, Texas.

Personal Accomplishments
In addition to her expertise in real estate, Mary has extensive experience in the wireless communications industry, having developed and operated cellular systems in Montana and Minnesota.  She also was an investor in two other cellular businesses.  Charisma Corporation – which developed cellular MSAs (major service areas) in Florida, Tennessee and Georgia – and was sold to AT&T; and Area Communications, which was purchased by Continental Cable Company.  A business partner in the popular Winter Park landmark, Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant, Mary is also a venture capital partner in Wonderworks, a themed attraction in Orlando’s tourist corridor, and in eSchool Solutions, a nationwide satellite response system.

Orlando Community Involvement
Mary serves on the Board of Trustees of Boys Town Central Florida and represents the family namesake for the Demetree Campus located in Oviedo.  Children and Family Support Services include Children in Need of Services/Family in Need Services, Common Sense Parenting classes, and Project Safe Place, a national program that assists at-risk girls and boys in crisis.  She also serves as the chairwoman of the William C. Demetree, Jr., Foundation.  In the spirit of her philanthropic nature and faith-based affirmation, Mary is a founding member of the Board of Regents of Ave Maria University and now serves on the Board of Trustees.

Throughout her career, she served on the Orlando Chamber of Commerce Board’s Executive Committee and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Central Florida Partnership, as well as Commerce National Bank & Trust of Winter Park, and Young Life of Central Florida.  Additionally, Mary was appointed by former Governor Charlie Crist to sit on the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board and was recently reappointed by Governor Rick Scott.  She is a large gift donor of Orlando Health as well as lifetime investor of the Florida Hospital Foundation and Cancer Research Center to provide much needed visitor waiting room renovations.  She is also a capital donor for the UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona and a founding scholarship donor for a Charter Class student at the UCF College of Medicine.

Mary served as a Director of Security National Bank Corporation, which later become Huntington Banks, Chairman of the Community Reinvestment Act Committee, Chairman of the Orange County Community Development Board and is a Leadership Winter Park and Leadership Orlando alumnae. In addition, she has been a member of Downtown Toastmasters, Junior League of Orlando, Florida Executive Women and former board member of Council 101 in support of the Orlando Museum of Art. Mary served ten years on the state board of Florida Right to Life and remains active.  She is a past President of Legatus, a national Catholic business leader’s organization.