Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Demel.
Jennifer, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in Graham, TX and then came to Fort Worth to attend TCU for college. I majored in Finance with a Real Estate emphasis. This is where I met my husband, Sam Demel, who played baseball at TCU. We dated through college and were married the fall after I graduated in 2008. My plan was to attend law school and go into development or commercial real estate in some way. However, I married a professional baseball player and my life took a new, unforeseen path. While my husband was working his way through the minor league system, I stayed in Fort Worth and worked to support us. In 2010, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and was called up to make his major league debut. At that moment, I dropped everything and moved to Arizona so that we could be together as a family and really experience the rollercoaster of baseball together. During this time, I really began diving into real estate investing and flipping properties. This is truly where my love for residential real estate began. From 2010-2015, we lived in Arizona for three years and then were traded to the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, and my husband retired with the LA Dodgers. When he was traded to the Astros, we knew this was our chance to come back to Fort Worth. I flew to Fort Worth and purchased an incredible, nationally historic home and began a two-year restoration project on the home. My husband never saw the home until I was roughly five months into the project. It was the John C. Ryan home. This only evolved my love for real estate and restoration.
In 2014, my husband had a career-ending surgery and in 2015 he joined me in working for Burt Ladner Real Estate. We have been partnering ever since and have been awarded Top Realtor Fort Worth Magazine 2017-2019, Top Realtor 360 West Magazine 2017-2019, 40 Under 40 by Fort Worth Business Press, and top producer in 2018. With having spent so much time on the west coast, we began a love with wine and saw a space in the Fort Worth market that needed to be filled. Hence, it grew our idea to create a wine bar that is a completely new experience. In the fall of 2018, we began the search for a great place to start Thirty Eight & Vine. We will now be opening in Winter 2019 in the revitalized area of The Foundry District. We provide 42 bottles in dispensers which are self serve. You have the opportunity to pour three different sizes ranging from 1oz to 5oz or you may purchase. We will have small bites provided from local vendors and a gorgeous tasting room for intimate private events, classes, and tastings. I have such a love for Fort Worth and for the entrepreneurial spirit. I love working to see our area thrive and to support our city. I also serve on the board for The Blast for Cooks Children Hospital supporting neuroblastoma. This cause is very near and dear to my heart! We have two kids, ages 8 and 5, and two goldendoodles. I have also recently accepted my nomination for the 2020 Woman Of The Year Campaign benefitting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road but it has been an exciting, adventurous road that I am so proud of. I have so many dreams and aspirations and along this road, I have been told “no” time and time again, I have not been taken seriously, my knowledge and skill base has been questioned time and again but in the end, you continue to push through and achieve your goals. My advice to young women is to just dive in headfirst. Everything I have learned and accomplished, I have done day by day on the go! It has been a sink or swim mentality. If you have a passion or an idea, go for it! It is never too late to chase your dreams. It is hard and it can be very stressful but you just keep going and you will accomplish what you are looking for. Also, build a great support team around you. Whether that be friends and family or a business team. You cannot accomplish your dreams alone. A friend of mine once said “Hire your weaknesses” and I have completely taken this to heart. Realize and understand your weaknesses and ask for help when and where help is needed.
We’d love to hear more about Burt Ladner Real Estate and Thirty Eight & Vine.
I am a real estate and a wine bar owner. What I am most proud of is the level of client/customer experience I provide. Relationships are incredibly important and I hold them in the utmost regard. Regardless of the industry, relationships mean everything. I work to truly listen and understand our clients. My clients become dear friends. The atmosphere of our wine bar, Thirty-Eight & Vine, provides the same experience. We work to provide the highest level of service.
I am also very proud of my marketing and growing brand recognition. We work to take on new, unique approaches and have grown our business and brand name accordingly.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
As cliche or silly as it may sound, I believe it is being taken seriously and being respected and trusted. These are the barriers that I have run into the most and it hurts to me to the core. As a female and a young female, your knowledge and ability can be questioned no matter how well educated or hard working you might be. I have learned to vent about it in private over a glass of wine and I just tell myself to work harder the next day to prove them wrong.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ste. 240
Fort Worth, TX 76116 - Website: www.burtladner.com
- Phone: 8179096440
- Email: jennifer@burtladner.com
- Instagram: @samjennblre @thirtyeightandvine
Image Credit:
Jen Morley Burner Photography, Madenline Edwards Photography, Deckert Photography
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