About
Emerald Coast Association of RealtorsECAR is a 501 (c)(6) organization made up of more than 4,000 REALTOR® members covering Okaloosa and Walton counties ready to serve buyers, sellers and the public. Thanks to volunteer leadership, committee members and staff, ECAR helps REALTORS® so that REALTORS® can help their customers and clients.
The mission of the Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS® is to assist the members in achieving an exemplary level of professionalism, integrity, and fair business practice and to enhance the REALTOR® image to the public by providing its members with the best available education, products, and services they need to succeed. To protect private property rights, influence legislation, and to be recognized as involved citizens of the community.
2025 Board of Directors
President
Maria Howell
President-Elect
Melissa Skoniecki
Vice President
Kimberlie Griggs
Treasurer
Cathy Alley
Assistant Treasurer
Sherrie Salas
2025 Area Directors
Ft Walton Beach
Ben Acock
Property Management
Dana Topel
North Walton
Brandy Brown
Navarre
Thomas Canada
Crestview
Jason Miller
Miramar Beach
Hana Hawkins
Destin
Bonnie Hall
Niceville
Tammy Summers
South Walton
Sabine Robertson
Commercial
Chris Wooten
2025 Florida Realtor Directors
KIMBERLIE GRIGGS
SHERRIE SALAS
TAMMY SUMMERS
BONNIE HALL
SABINE ROBERTSON
BRANDY BROWN
JASON MILLER
DANA TOPEL
CHRISSY HARTLEY
THOMAS CANADA
HANA HAWKINS
CHRIS WOOTEN
JOE CAPELOTTI
TERRY PILCHER
MICHELE BAILEY
2025 NAR Directors
Maria Howell, ECAR
Melissa Skoniecki, ECAR
Cathy Alley
Meet our President, 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.
Within her 26 years in real estate, she has been an assistant, partner in a real estate team, managed agents at the Okaloosa Island, 30A and Panama City Beach offices. She was promoted to Vacasa’s Director of Real Estate – East Region in 2022 and managed the Brokers in Maine, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama as well as Principal Broker for Florida. In 2023, Maria opened her own brokerage. REV Realty serves Florida, Alabama and Texas. She trains agents on contracts, marketing, lead generation and real estate technology platforms.
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.
