Earl Blackwell is a native Texan, he was born and raised in San Antonio. He spent 11 years in Austin where he received his undergraduate degree and continued with his graduate studies from the University of Texas. While still in graduate school, Earl discovered the excitement of boating and sailing and began his career in the boat manufacturing industry. He later met and married Mary and they began their new lives together.

He had the opportunity to move to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1980 when he pursued large yacht design, engineering and boat building. Earl’s career has spanned 30+ years of increasing responsibilities in the marine industry overseeing manufacturing and engineering operations, as Vice President, at some of the largest and most successful companies in the industry. He was also a partner in a successful boat manufacturing and design process firm, here and abroad, for a number of years.

His cumulative business experience has provided Earl with excellent negotiation and contract skills. He has been interviewed twice on the Discovery Channel for the reality shows Extreme Yachts and Extreme Manufacturing. Additionally, he has been directly involved in real estate purchases, property management, land development, negotiations, as well as contract execution. His people skills have been honed over many years while he has travelled abroad to such countries as Spain, Australia, South Korea and Taiwan. All have yielded a firm foundation for his real estate career. 

Though a Texas native, Mary relocated to Southwest Florida three separate times, totaling twenty-five years of sunshine, beach and outdoor living. She graduated from UT Austin with a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and followed her husband to St. Petersburg, Florida where she worked as a nurse and raised two beautiful daughters. Several moves later Mary and her husband landed in Sarasota, Florida and she left nursing behind for a real estate career.

Mary has personally enjoyed so much of what this area has to offer that she has no trouble promoting the Sarasota area to her clients whether they are looking for a home to retired in, raising a family, looking for a part time vacation home or for a rental investment.

Mary loved and lived the lifestyle found in:

A beachfront condo on Siesta Key

A gated golf course community-twice, both in South Sarasota

Fenced acreage with horses—the privacy and elbow room of east Sarasota County

Planned communities, backyard golf courses—Southeast Bradenton Lakewood Ranch area

Mary knows the area, the best school districts, the shops and malls, the beaches, recreation areas, museums and hospitals. As a profoundly happy Florida resident she will help you find the best location for the lifestyle you want to live!