DeMarse began her career in politics by serving on the Senate Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (aka
The Watergate Committee) and then as an aide to Congressman
Edward I. Koch. While serving at Bloomberg, DeMarse compiled
The Portable Bloomberg: The Wit and Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg, a collection of aphorisms and sayings by the company's founder.
Bankrate, Inc. While at Bloomberg, DeMarse created and ran Bloomberg Personal Finance, then termed “Personal Wealth.” In 2000, she was recruited by former
Forbes publisher Jeff Cunningham to run iLife. At that time, iLife was in financial trouble and ranked #7 on the March 2000 Barron’s “Burn Rate” list. Two quarters later, ad revenues had increased, and the company's cash flow returned to break-even levels. The stock price rose from $0.18 to $26 per share. She re-branded the company as
Bankrate.com. In 2000, Bankrate's unique visitors grew from 700,000 to 5 million. In 2004, Bankrate reported $14 million in net income. On November 1, 2001, DeMarse testified before the US Congress on the impact of
9/11 on the credit card billing of the consumer. DeMarse also testified before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, regarding the ‘unfairness’ of consumer late fees brought about by the events of 9/11. Subsequently, some issuers, notably
Capital One, cancelled their late fees.
President and CEO, DeMarseCo In 2006, she founded DeMarseCo in partnership with venture capitalist
Austin Ventures. DeMarseCo acquired multiple tech companies, including ClickSuccess, Freedom Marketing, and All Star Directories.
President and CEO, CreditCards.com DeMarse became president and CEO of CreditCards.com. Under DeMarse's leadership, the company was twice named to the Inc. 500, and as a recipient of the Association for Corporate Growth award. She received the Working Mother of the Year award in 2008. CreditCards.com was acquired by
Bankrate in 2010.
CEO, Newser.com On October 17, 2010, after the sale of Creditcards.com to Bankrate, it was announced that DeMarse would undertake the role as CEO of
Newser, an internet news publisher listed at the #25 most influential internet publication by OMMA. On February 28, 2011,
Andrew Ross Sorkin disclosed that Newser’s pending acquisition of
Salon.com had failed.
Chairman, President and CEO, TheStreet, Inc. On March 7, 2012,
TheStreet.com announced that DeMarse was hired as CEO and president, replacing outgoing CEO Daryl Otte, effective immediately. She was named Chairman April 16, 2012. On September 12, 2012, TheStreet acquired The Deal, LLC. On April 22, 2013, TheStreet acquired three properties from DealFlow Media: The DealFlow Report, The Life Settlements Report, and the PrivateRaise database. ==Philanthropies==