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 (SETCO) in Memphis; and later, Memphis Title Company. Richard and his wife, Demetria, moved to Destin and opened McNeese Title, LLC in 2003. Since moving to the Emerald Coast, Richard and Demetria have been very involved with several local charities including the Destin Charity Wine Auction and Sacred Heart Hospital; and Richard has also enjoyed being an Advisory Board member of The Whitney Bank. One of Richard’s passions though is flying and he is especially proud of his service as an Honorary Commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base and his “ride” in an F-15.

Richard 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 75,000 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. Both Demetria and Richard are founding members of the Destin Charity Wine Auction are proud to call A Simple Faith their church home. After hosting the 2nd Annual WSRE Destin Wine and Food Classic, Demetria was asked to join the WSRE board and looks forward to serving the Gulf Coast’s PBS station.

While Demetria gives much of her time to local charity events, she also finds pure delight in having friends into her home for anything from an elegant dinner to a football party.

Peggy S. Owens, Closing Officer/Destin Branch Manager
powens@mcneesetitle.com

Since 1990, 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.

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, Degree in Finance. She began a career in the hospitality industry at Marriott’s Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach, and in 1996 took a long term position as a payroll manager with a human resource firm in Orlando, Florida. Cindy joined the real estate industry as a mortgage broker in 2003. She became a licensed title agent the following year before coming back to live in the beautiful Panhandle with her husband and son. 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 has enjoyed a very successful career in radio, television and advertising agency work in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1989 she was named one of “Birmingham’s Top 50 Salespeople” by Business First Magazine. Lorre has 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 media events and promotions.

Lorre moved to Destin from Birmingham, Alabama July of 1999 and worked as an account executive for a local radio station and Freedom Communications, a national newspaper chain.

Julie Paton, Short Sale Negotiator
jpaton@mcneesetitle.com

Julie was born in Mobile, Alabama and moved back to the Gulf Coast in 1999 after spending 18 years as a Delta international and domestic flight attendant. While with Delta she helped design custom bidding software for flight attendants and then trained over 1,400 of her peers on this software. She is a graduate of University of Georgia with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration Management. Julie also is a licensed Florida Realtor® with Realtor Institute Designation. In her "spare" time Julie is the proud, busy mom of two teenage daughters. McNeese is happy to have her on our staff full time!

Coco Chanel McNeese

Coco Chanel McNeese was born March 15th, 2006. Although, now the picture of perfect health, Chanel was challenged very early in her life with a birth defect, which required open heart surgery. With the brilliant knowledge of the skillful doctors at Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine and the nurturing love of her human parents, Richard and Demetria, she made a full recovery.

Chanel is an honorary member of ECAR, the Leadership Development Program, Destiny Charity Wine Auction Foundation and is a regular attendee of A Simple Faith in Sea Grove, Florida.

Among Chanel’s favorite past times are traveling, sampling gourmet cuisine, wine country tours and tastings and just hanging out with friends and family.
If you see Richard and Demetria, please feel free to peak in Dee’s large purse and say hello to Chanel, as she never meets a stranger.

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

Following Air Force retirement, Jim embarked on a second career in real estate closings and has 10 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.