Realtor. Builder. Restaurateur. Entrepreneur. Mom. Superwoman? She just might me.
“Sometimes she’s got a baby on one hip, typing a real estate contract with her right hand and talking to a PJ’s Coffee employee about a food order on the speaker phone. It just stresses me out. I have to walk away,” says Davi’s husband, Rick Camera.
They have two young children, Mia Sophia, almost 3, and Cristiano Ricardo, 11 months; own a host of businesses; and see giving to others as part of their lifestyle.
Attorney and friend Sen. Sean Tindell says, “Some people say you can’t have it all. Jennifer proves those people wrong every day. She balances her life with multiple successful businesses, raising two amazing children, and loving life with friends and family. She is a great role model for all of us.”
Davi says cooking and serving a home-cooked meal to her family is very important to her. “My mother always says a family that eats together stays together so my favorite part of my house is my kitchen, and maybe my dining room because that’s where we all sit to eat together! Cooking/serving a home-cooked meal to my family is one of the most nurturing things that I can do for my family.”
Operating multiple businesses, volunteering, taking care of her family — how does she do it all? “Everyone out there is juggling work with raising kids and taking care of the house,” Davi says. “How can you not feel like Superwoman. We are sooo powerful; we are all so strong and we can accomplish all things. When we are sick and weak, we just keep plowing through each day without stopping. The main thing is to not give up and to pray hard. I repeat, pray hard!”
Instead of dialing back, Davi is moving forward with more projects that make a difference in the lives of others.
Because of her love for children, especially those who are suffering, it makes sense that her company, Sapphire Homes, would build this year’s St. Jude Home (valued at $430,000), which will be raffled off to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Davi, 40, has been a licensed real estate agent for 10 years, working with Owen & Co., Gulfport. She owns PJs Coffee, downtown Gulfport; co-owns The Reef Restaurant and Baja Beach Pelican Wharf restaurants on the beach in Biloxi; Kelly’s Sports Pub in downtown Gulfport; and Storage City, a facility located in D’Iberville.
One would expect Davi to be laser-focused and have a driven personality — she is described as an astute businesswoman, but others quickly turn to talking about her heart.
Broker Sherry Owen of Owen & Co. says Davi has a very good business mind and a “heart of gold. It’s how she treats people. People want to work with her. She’s just amazing.”
Business partner/restaurateur Rob Stinson adds, “Her genuineness coupled with her intelligence and good nature make her successful in all her endeavors. Also, on a personal note, she thinks of and would do anything for others.”
Davi and her husband have made a marked impact on many on the Coast and are also transforming the landscape of the coastline and downtown Gulfport. In addition to building the restaurants on the beach, they have constructed 26 homes on the beach and restored six commercial buildings in downtown Gulfport.
Camerena says as a firefighter he could not afford property in California but saw an opportunity to purchase properties at affordable prices in Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Davi and Camerena are very proud of their efforts to build Gold Key Fortified beachfront homes that keep insurance rates in check. These fortified homes save homeowners more than 60 percent on insurance for wind, fire and flood, Davi says.
Whatever Davi gets involved in she brings to it a great degree of passion. “The reason I became a Realtor is because I enjoy helping people and problem-solving,” she says.
“I am passionate about volunteering and helping children — giving them joy and making them laugh! For 12 years, I have volunteered at the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation every June at a camp in Sanger, California.”
But where does such a passionate heart draw strength and courage? Davi says, “I strongly believe that every single success, everything and anything that we are given in life is from only one, and that’s Jesus. I never thought that I was going to be able to have any children. After four long years of trying and just when we were so discouraged, it’s only when we gave up trying and stopped trying to control it ourselves that we found out I was pregnant at the age of 37. My greatest success, pure joy and gift in my life is to be a mom to my sweet daughter and my son.”
ST. JUDE HOUSE GIVEAWAY
The St Jude House will be open for tours beginning March 11. Prize winners will be drawn on April 9. The home features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, custom cabinets, granite countertops, extensive crown molding, is 2,600 square feet and has beach views.
TAKE THE TOUR
Oak Shadow neighborhood
503 Oak Shadow Drive
Gulfport, MS 39501
TICKETS
www.stjude.org