Growing up, I lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and I graduated with two masters’ degrees (majoring in business, marketing, and computer science) right there in Jacksonville.
During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, I completed a Masters of Business Administration degree (with major coursework in international business & management) at Amberton University.
I had started taking courses at Amberton prior to retiring in May 2017 from my last teaching position, which was as a professor at Pasco-Hernando State College. I am a professional student, so it is like I just can’t stop going to school!
To go back in years to July 2000, I began my real estate career with a large real estate company in West Palm Beach, Florida, and I have continuously been working and studying in some capacity in both the professions of teaching and real estate since then .
My teaching career began prior to that in 1977 at Matthew Gilbert Seventh Grade Center in Jacksonville, Florida, where I taught career exploratory classes in marketing.
Fast forward to the mid-1980s. I was working at Palm Beach State College where I was an Assistant Professor of Office Systems/Computer Science courses for 11 years. While there, I started acquiring homes and became a landlord. This is what lead to my interest in getting a real estate sales license so that I could also work as a REALTOR®.
My philosophy in life & work
My philosophy in life, which cannot be separated from where I live and work is – and has always been – to strive to have both a home and a career where I can pursue my passions. In keeping with my philosophy, I live and work wherever I feel a calling from God.
My experience as a REALTOR®…
I first became licensed as a real estate agent in 2000 and later became licensed as a real estate broker in 2002. (I gave up teaching in 2001 for full-time work as a REALTOR®.) During my first 2-1/2 years working as a REALTOR®, I worked for a large independent real estate company out of a West Palm Beach office. In 2003, I started my own company. In my own company, I closed about 900 sales transactions in six years (2003-2009).
In 2008, I moved to Waycross with plans to get licensed as a real estate broker in Georgia so I could work in both Florida and Georgia. Though I wasn’t planning on returning to teaching, a position opened in Waycross right after I moved to the area, and I felt that calling back into the teaching profession.
Fast forward. I left Waycross in 2011 and returned to Florida for a different teaching position, which was at Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC). During my years at PHSC, I kept up with my real estate credentials and even added to them. And in 2015, I formed and licensed Kelly Property Expert, Inc., to operate out of my home in Port Richey while I was continuing to teach full-time at Pasco-Hernando State College.
Fast forward another couple of years. On May 3, 2017, I retired from my position as a Professor at Pasco-Hernando State College and returned to Waycross, Georgia. When I moved back to Waycross, I brought my real estate company with me.
After my return to Waycross, I opened a small office in the Historic Rail Depot in Downtown Waycross, where my company was located until December 31, 2019. Upon closing my office in Waycross, I moved my company to the Arlington Profession Building in Jacksonville, Florida, about 75 miles from my home, which gave me a presence in both Florida and Georgia – the two states where I am licensed to sell real estate.
But on December 31 2022, I closed my company, Kelly Property Expert, Inc. Now, I am no longer working under a corporate business structure. In January 2023, I formed Mary Kelly MBA, a sole proprietorship, where I continue working as a licensed real estate broker. Services I now offer include independent professional real estate market & pricing opinions, marketing research & report writing, REALTOR® MLS listings & sales, for sale by owner transaction services, training on office & computer applications, and project & secretarial services.
My Code of Ethics and promises I make to you…
Embodied in all I do both personally and professionally, I adhere to a code of ethics that opposes discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status/sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin. In addition to my adherence to anti-discrimination in all I do, I also promise to go ABOVE and BEYOND for you!
My Passion…
To get a glimpse into my philosophy of life and work, check out my speech on passion which I gave at both the morning and afternoon commencement ceremonies on the day I retired from teaching (May 3, 2017) at Pasco-Hernando State College. I speak for 3 minutes right after the students enter the auditorium.
College Degrees & Credentials
Masters (MBA – International Business & Management) – Amberton University
Masters (Computer Education) – Jacksonville University
Masters (Business Education) – University of North Florida
Bachelors (Vocational Education / Marketing) – University of North Florida
Associate of Arts (Business/Office Systems) – Florida State College at Jacksonville
Office Accounting Certification – Okefenokee Technical College (now Coastal Pines)
