Contributors

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Host

Chad S. Nelson

Chad, ECAR's Marketing and Communication Director joins the ECAR staff after spending nearly 20+ years as a professional athlete and intercollegiate volleyball coach; highlighted by 2 National Championships and a Silver Medal with the 2008 USA Women's Volleyball Program at the Beijing Olympics.


He has spent the past 6 years as a VP of Operations with a management and consulting company based in Oklahoma that specialized in Environmental Services for hospitals, universities and K-12 school systems. Chad received his under graduate degrees (Business Admin, Marketing and Hermeneutics) at Lincoln Christian University in 2008 and his MBA from Greenville University in 2021.


In his spare time, Chad loves spending time with his family (The Party of 5 as they call themselves), plays volleyball, is an avid golfer, and loves to be on the water; whether at the beach or out on the boat with good friends.

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Co-host

Maria Howell

Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Maria has lived in the Destin, Fort Walton and Niceville area since 1979.  She has seen all the changes and growth along our beautiful Emerald Coast!


Maria has been affiliated with Abbott Resorts/Realty, ResortQuest/Wyndham and Vacasa since 1991. She began her affiliation with the company that is now Vacasa in property management where she became familiar with both condominium properties and the operation of vacation rentals. After obtaining a degree in marketing in 1998 from the University of West Florida, Maria joined the real estate sales team.


After graduating from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors’ Leadership Development Program in 2010, Maria saw the value in getting involved with our local association as well as the state and national associations.    She is currently on the Board of Directors for our local real estate association, Emerald Coast Association of Realtors as their President.