Deborah Butler was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, and joined her father, founding developer S. Clark Butler, in business in the early 1980s. Over the years, she has held nearly every role in the organization, gaining hands-on experience across marketing, leasing, design, finance, and development. Together, they developed Butler Plaza, a one-million-square-foot retail center, along with several large multifamily residential projects in the city.

Following her father’s passing in 2008, Deborah carried forward his vision for expansion by relocating big-box retailers from the premium Archer Road frontage and developing the rear of the 267-acre property into Butler North, now a fully leased power center with its own main thoroughfare. This strategic move paved the way for Butler Town Center, the region’s first open-air retail and mixed-use project, encompassing 350,000 square feet.

Deborah holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Emory University, a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Florida, and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. She has also spent significant time traveling and studying in Europe. An active community leader, Deborah serves on numerous boards and supports a wide range of organizations and causes, including as a board member of the University of Florida’s Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is also a past two-term president of UF’s Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.