What is your hometown, what brought 

you to the Emerald Coast and how long 

have you been here?  

Being a “military brat” this answer can be 

tough, but I’ve always told people I was born in 

California, have lived all over the US, but the 

Emerald Coast is my HOME.  I spent much 

of my life moving around the country, but my 

father was stationed at Eglin AFB from 1991-

1995 and even after we left, we continued to 

come back to vacation.  In 2000, my father was 

stationed at Hurlburt and decided to make this 

our forever home.  I left for 4 years to attend 

Florida State University and moved back after 

graduation to start my family and career in 

2007.

What is your profession and what led 

you to choose this profession?

I am the Senior Director of Marketing & 

Leasing at Destin Commons and have been 

in the Marketing realm for over 10 years. 

Believe it or not, when I started college at 

FSU I intended to get involved in Sports 

Medicine.  A friend of mine asked me to 

attend a seminar at the College of Business and 

two marketing professors did an incredible 

presentation; saying they intrigued me is an 

understatement…I changed my major that 

week and haven’t looked back! 

What do you like best about Destin and 

what makes it unique?

This community is one of the most giving and 

involved that I have ever experienced.  I am so 

proud of the “Southern Hospitality” that pours 

from the heart and soul of all of our residents. 

Give us three words that best describe 

you. 

Determined, Passionate, Adventurous.

Favorite things you like about Destin.

The people, the variety of ecosystems we have 

from the beach to the woods and the proximity 

to many different large metro areas. 

I AM DESTIN because… 

 

I spent most of my childhood and my entire 

adulthood as part of this community and am 

raising my children and building a family here 

as well.  I consider myself a product of the 

support and mentorship of the past and present 

leaders in our area and am committed to giving 

back to the place that has given me so much.

I AM DESTIN

Heather 

Ruiz

photo by Zhalman Harris

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