Millie Burgett’s Journey from ER Nurse to Community Developer

Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Justin Hunter

From the bustling floor of a busy emergency room to the quiet yet vibrant buzz of a construction site, Millie Burgett's career trajectory has been anything but conventional.

Once an ER nurse, Millie has transitioned into roles as a house flipper, real estate agent, and community developer. With an infectious enthusiasm for her new path, Millie exemplifies how diverse experiences can pave the way for unexpected yet fulfilling careers.

In 2014, Millie began her career as a nurse, a profession known for its demands and relentless pace. However, her life took a pivotal turn in 2016 when she and her husband, Seth, undertook their first house-flipping project. What started as a side hustle became a passion that eventually led Millie to leave nursing in 2021.

"That transition gave me a chance to slow down. Not that life today is boring or isn't sometimes busy, but I move at a different pace now. I get to primarily be a mom and wife, and then everything else is just an added bonus," Millie says.

Today, she identifies as a mom, wife, real estate agent, and real estate investor deeply committed to revitalizing her community. This path was carved by her childhood in south Alabama and her familial connections to construction.

"I grew up in Gulf Shores, and my parents had a building supply store. To this day, sawdust is one of the most comforting smells to me," she laughs. "Which is good because I am around it a lot!"

Her natural affinity for working with her hands and her husband's construction skills proved to be a formidable combination, leading to their success in the house-flipping business. With only a few projects per year, Millie and Seth take their time to ensure each house is more than just a structure. They recognize that each is a potential new home for a family, a building block in the community's foundation.

The transition from healthcare to real estate may seem unusual at first glance, but for Millie, it feels like a natural shift.

"You don't keep patients very long in the ER. You treat them, get them stable, and they either go home or to another floor," Millie explains. "That reminds me of flipping a house. You get it back in working, functional condition, and then your job is done, and the house goes on to its new family." 

Millie's passion for real estate extends beyond just flipping houses. Recently, she became a member of the City of Cordova Planning Commission. This role allows her to directly influence the growth and development of her adopted hometown. Her involvement is centered on fostering a community where her children, Gentry and Kennedy, can thrive.

"Home is what you make it. If you want your community to be great, you have to put work into it," she says. "Cordova has the bones to be the perfect place to raise a family. The center of the town right now is a park where there are people all the time, and that's what I grew up with. I am glad that my children will also experience it."

Looking ahead, Millie is excited about the potential for Cordova's future. Plans for revitalizing the downtown area, adding mixed-use properties and enhancing outdoor recreational spaces are all in the works. "Cordova has so much opportunity for outdoor recreation, and to see those spaces be made more usable really emphasizes what Cordova has to offer," she notes.

As Millie continues to reshape her community and help others achieve their real estate dreams, she stands firm in the idea that with enough passion and hard work, one can truly flip the script on their life's path. 78