Nancy Cortez arrived in the Daytona area 31 years ago, settling in for all the right reasons.
“I immediately fell in love with the vibrant coastal lifestyle,” Cortez says. “The weather is ideal — just enough of a seasonal change, and then you’re right back to the beach and the pool. It’s a friendly community, small enough that you always run into someone you know. City officials and economic development leaders are very accessible. Our location also makes it easy to explore the rest of Florida.”
She stayed not only because of the easy-going lifestyle, but also because she had a vision for pitching in to help build a civically engaged community.
The Rotary Club of Downtown Ormond Beach, which Cortez founded with two friends, was instrumental in creating the Four Corners Park and Fit Loop near the Granada Bridge — a thoughtfully designed public space with miles of walking paths beneath and alongside the bridge, framed by sweeping views of the Intercoastal Waterway.
“We partnered with AdventHealth to install exercise equipment on each corner of the park,” Cortez explains. “I love that there’s a ribbon of coastline to walk every day, and now an equally beautiful ribbon of trails along the Intercoastal.”
There are now so many initiatives that benefit from Nancy’s civic engagement that she literally gives something back to the community every single day. Cortez is a member of both the Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach Chambers of Commerce, serves as a docent with the Ormond Beach Historical Society, and is a driving force behind Ormond Beach MainStreet. Through MainStreet, she helps bring beloved community events to life, including Riverfest, the Celtic Festival, Taste of Ormond, Granada Grand, Shop Small Saturday, and Christmas in July.
Behind the scenes, Cortez manages as many as 150 volunteers per event — a feat that requires equal parts organization, leadership, and enthusiasm. Riverfest alone draws an average of 15,000 attendees, bringing a celebration of fresh seafood, fun, and entertainment to the community.
“We’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished,” she says with a laugh. “It’s a pretty well-known joke that I work to support my volunteer addiction.”
Through Ormond Beach MainStreet, Cortez also plays a hands-on role in strengthening the area’s economic vitality and visual appeal by working closely with local businesses and government officials. The group is also a member of the national MainStreet program which provides business owners access to CRA matching grants to improve building facades. Current efforts focus on expanding green spaces and enhancing landscaping throughout downtown.
Cortez is now a top realtor with Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors and notes that the low cost of living in the Daytona area makes it a very attractive landing spot. “Even though prices have gone up recently, you can’t find another coastal town in Florida that has a vibrant lifestyle at our home prices,” according to Nancy.
While she is centered in Ormond Beach, the drive into Daytona Beach along Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway happens in the blink of an eye. She’s well known for her community tours and is often called upon when major employers recruit key talent. It’s also rumored that she occasionally tests the “land speed record” while driving her Jeep down the beach — dog and future Floridian on board.
Cortez reflects on the area’s long-recognized appeal. “John D. Rockefeller famously chose Ormond Beach after being advised it was one of the healthiest places to live,” she says. “A century later, I still believe that’s true.”
With a favorable lifestyle and strong sense of community, Cortez believes the region’s best chapters are still ahead – “I’ve definitely drank the koolaid.”