Richard S. McNeese, President, Attorney
rmcneese@mcneesetitle.com

After earning his BBA in Real Estate in 1970 and his law degree in 1973, Richard served as both an Assistant State Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney in Tennessee. He began his own law firm in 1980, where he launched his real estate closing career. In 1990, he formed Southern Escrow Title Company in Memphis; and later, Memphis Title Company. Richard and his wife, Demetria, moved to Destin and opened McNeese Title, LLC in 2003. He is a licensed attorney in Florida and Tennessee and has taught hundreds of continuing education classes to real estate agents in those states. During his career, Richard and his companies have conducted in excess of 70,000 real estate closings.

Demetria C. McNeese, Vice President
dmcneese@mcneesetitle.com

Demetria’s move into the title business followed a natural flow after a number of years of working with commercial real estate development and real estate management for major companies, both at the national and international level. Her business and marketing acumen began early in her career in Nashville, where she co-owned and managed a music publishing company that produced a number of Top 20 hits. She also worked with a number of international and national clients in adverting and marketing promotions for a large Nashville radio station.

Peter J. Pike, Attorney
ppike@mcneesetitle.com

Peter J. Pike has spent most of the last 22 years working in the Real Estate industry. When he graduated from St. John's University School of Law, he was immediately hired as in-house counsel to Public Equities Corp., a large mortgage bank, located on Long Island, New York. At Public Equities, he learned the ins and outs of mortgage lending and title closings. Striking out on his own in 1985, Mr. Pike began a law career in New York, representing buyers, sellers, lenders and title insurers of residential and commercial real estate as well as small businesses involved a variety of commercial transactions. As the real estate market grew through the mid to late 1980's, Peter began teaching broker and agent courses at the Long Island Real Estate Training Institute. In 1986, a client convinced him to purchase a townhouse in Destin, Florida. He did, and, on his first trip to see what he owned, fell in love with the beautiful beaches and quaint town, that was Destin.

In 2002, Peter decided that it was time to move away from the hustle and bustle that was New York, and try to enjoy life a little, in the corner of the world that was still relatively unknown in New York. He packed up and moved to Destin, where he met Richard and Demetria McNeese. The real estate market was booming, and McNeese Title needed help in getting files closed. Pitching right in, Peter carved out a place with the company, becoming its Clearance Officer, after receiving extensive training in title searching and title issues. In 2006, Richard McNeese finally convinced Peter to take the Florida bar exam which he passed. On June 14, 2007, Peter was sworn in as an attorney, duly licensed to practice law as a full member of the Florida bar.

Mr. Pike currently lives in Pensacola, commuting every day to what he describes as the best place in the world to work.

Peggy S. Owens, Destin Office Branch Manager
powens@mcneesetitle.com

For the past 17 years, Peggy has worked in the title industry in Northwest Florida. She started out typing title policies and worked her way up as a Title Searcher / Examiner, as a Closing Agent and then as an Office Manager. She is a licensed title agent, but received most of her experience through on the job training. Peggy was the very first employee of McNeese Title and says that it’s been the best time of her life! “Working for McNeese Title has broadened my abilities and the experience I have received here is priceless.” She and her staff are dedicated to “The Above and Beyond” of customer service.

Suzanne Seltzer, Receptionist
sseltzer@mcneesetitle.com

Suzanne Seltzer is McNeese Title’s “ Director of First Impressions”. Ms. Seltzer has been involved in the Destin real estate industry since 1994, working in positions ranging from accounting to real estate sales. Suzanne has been with McNeese Title since our opening in 2003 and has no plans of ever leaving. One of her best attributes is her natural ability to make everyone who calls or comes into our office feel warm and comfortable. With her high regard for excellent customer service, Suzanne looks forward to making you feel welcome to the McNeese Title family.

Peggy Pzinski, Closing Agent
ppzinski@mcneesetitle.com

Peggy (Peggy P) moved to the beautiful gulf coast after relocating from Germantown, Tennessee eight years ago. Peggy P joined the McNeese Team in 2003, when the office was established. Following careers as a teacher, legal secretary, deputy clerk, court clerk, government service, and retail, Peggy acquired her license as a Title Agent in the State of Florida. She has worked in the title business in the Destin area for 7 years and as a closing agent for 4 years. She has handled every aspect of the Title business from receptionist to Escrow Officer and everything in between. Her thoroughness and meticulous attention to details will insure your transaction will be handled with the utmost care.

Cindy Kelley, Escrow Officer
ckelley@mcneesetitle.com

Cindy Kelley has been one of our licensed escrow officers since 2004. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Cindy moved to the Florida Panhandle in 1993 after graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Degree in Finance. She began a career in the hospitality industry and later took a long term position with a human resource firm in Orlando, Florida. Cindy joined the real estate realm by starting as a mortgage broker in 2003, and became a licensed title agent the following year before coming back to live in the beautiful Panhandle. With a solid background in business and customer service, Cindy knows each closing is unique and requires individualized attention. Her specialty is making every client feel confident their transaction is handled with superior professional care and the personal attention it deserves.

TJ Norris, Executive Courier
tnorris@mcneesetitle.com

In the past, TJ worked as a Life Support and Survival Tech for the Air Force. He retired from Civil Service in 1999. Now, he is McNeese Title’s ‘Life Support’. He came to work for us in September 2003, just to stay busy and we have kept him busy. He exemplifies the McNeese image with his professionalism, courtesy and hard work ethics.

Lorre Gaither James, Director of Business Development
ljames@mcneesetitle.com

Lorre James is an Albertville, Alabama native who has spent most of her adult life in the field of mass media. The mother of one daughter, Lindsey Camille and grandson Rylan, Lorre started her professional career in 1976 as a public speaking and drama teacher, after graduating from Auburn University, with a B.S. degree in Communication Education. She is very proud to be an Auburn Tiger!

Lorre segued from being a school teacher in Montgomery, Alabama to taking a step into the mass communications world in 1980. Over the following 25+ years Lorre enjoyed a very successful career in radio, television and an advertising agency in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1989 she was named one of “Birmingham’s Top 50 Salespeople” by Business First Magazine. Lorre enjoyed using her public speaking and stage experience to enhance her sales career with, on camera and voice-over work, copy writing, television and radio production, photography, along with developing and implementing elaborate radio events and promotions.

Lorre moved to Destin from Birmingham, Alabama with husband Bob, July of 1999. For the past 6 years, Lorre has worked as an account executive for Freedom Communications, which owns over 40 newspapers nationwide including The Northwest Florida Daily News, The Panama City News Herald, The Destin Log and The Walton Sun.

Professionally, Lorre chaired many committees with the Birmingham Ad Club, developing, organizing and spearheading, an array of fundraisers and events for various charities.

Lorre enjoys cooking, entertaining and spending down time reading, exercising or just hanging out with her husband Bob and friends.

GRAYTON BEACH OFFICE

Mary A. Rodgers, Grayton Beach Manager
Licensed Title Agent
mrodgers@mcneesetitle.com

Mary, a Florida native, is beginning her 24th year in the title insurance industry; a career that began in Fort Lauderdale, with major title insurance underwriters. After relocating to the St. Petersburg – Clearwater area, she began to work for a title company in marketing and escrow operations. In 1999, after Sunbelt Title Agency was purchased by The St. Joe Company, she relocated to the panhandle to open the St. Joe title operations in Bay and Walton counties. In 2003, she joined McNeese Title and found the perfect company-wide mix; a love for the business and an indelible commitment to customer service. “There is no greater measure of success than our repeat customers and their personal referrals.”

Lynda Byrd, Escrow Officer
Licensed Title Agent
lbyrd@mcneesetitle.com

In 1998, Lynda relocated to Panama City Beach from Ozark, Alabama, where she had spent 14 years as a civil defense litigation paralegal, as well as handling all the firm’s real estate closing transactions. Lynda continued her career as a paralegal after the move, but returned to the title business as an escrow officer in 2002. In 2003, Lynda joined the McNeese team in opening our Rosemary Beach office. She is a licensed title agent and escrow officer and prides herself in providing the highest level of service. “We make the closing process uncomplicated and enjoyable for all involved.”

DESTIN TITLE EXCHANGE COMPANY

James W. Pzinski
jpzinski@mcneesetitle.com

1031 Exchange Agent for Destin Title Exchange Company, LLC

As a retired Air Force Officer/Pilot Jim embarked on a second career in real estate closings and has seven years experience in the Tennessee and Florida title industries. Jim’s area of expertise is IRS Code 1031 tax deferred exchanges as an exchange counselor and Qualified Intermediary. Jim is also a licensed Florida Title Agent with experience in title search and examination, real estate closings and title policy writing.