I AM DESTIN - Mary Anne Windes

What is your hometown, what brought you 

to the Emerald Coast and how long have you 

been here? 

Fort Walton Beach is my hometown, but we used 

to call it “Home of the Sonic Boom” back then. My 

parents moved to FWB in the 50’s, and I grew up on 

Memorial Parkway in the house that my mom still 

owns. After college, I was working in Destin in the 

early 1980’s for Frank & Mary Starnes King. Gail 

Grimes (Starling) and I did the accounting for their 

multiple businesses, and Capt. Kelly Windes used 

to sell his fi sh to them for one of their restaurants, 

Pier 98. That’s how we met and how I came to live 

in Destin and be married to one of the most famous 

fi shermen in The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.  

Grand total, I’ve lived on the Emerald Coast for 56 

years. 

What is your profession? 

I’m the broker and owner of Real Estate Professionals 

of Destin, Inc., among other things. Capt. Kelly 

and I have quite a few business interests, but I think 

I’m best known as a real estate broker…or Capt. 

Kelly’s wife…or Trey & Missy’s mom. I work both 

commercial and residential deals mostly for people 

that I already know. When I was growing up, one of 

my friends’ dads who I admired the most was local 

real estate legend, John W. Brooks. He was everything 

I wanted to be when I grew up except, of course, I 

would do so in the female version..

What do you like best about Destin?

Well, I remember when we didn’t have much besides 

the beach and fi shing, and we had to go to FWB for 

groceries, supplies, dinner, or a movie. Now, we have 

it all – shopping, beaches, restaurants, fi shing, golf, 

movies, etc.; just about anything you can imagine, we 

have it, and “having it all” is what I like the best about 

Destin. 

Three words that best describe you.

 

Similar to “location, location, location” in real estate, 

I’m happy, happy, happy!!!

Favorite Things you like about Destin.

 

Eating fresh fi sh, hanging out with happy people, 

location - everything I love is within one square 

mile, watching dolphins or boats or F-35’s, fresh air, 

conservative Christian city, and when I have time, 

I love the phenomenal shopping opportunities and 

gorgeous sugar-white beaches.   

Finish this statement, I AM DESTIN because…

I live here, I work here, my people are here, and I will 

die here. I have put my heart into this City and many 

of its causes. It brings me great joy to advocate for the 

best that Destin has to offer for everyone – not just a 

few – because I AM DESTIN!!!!   

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4/24/17   12:10 PM