In 1976, Barbara Sue Seal started her incredible business career by selling real estate when she needed to help pay for her daughter’s college education. After working for a firm for seven years, she decided to branch out on her own, starting with a “boutique” of about eight employees, a company called Barbara Sue Seal Properties. “We wanted to set ourselves apart” from other real estate companies, she said. “It’s the biggest investment most people make in their lives, and I thought it should be handled with skill and care.” Within six months, her firm was “knocking out walls” to accommodate more staff. Operating in a depressed financial market, “we set them on fire,” she proudly notes. “We grew to 15 offices and a billion dollars in sales. It was quite a ride.” Seal sold the company in 1997, but she still consults in the real estate industry and makes occasional sales. “I’ll do deals forever. I love the art of the deal.”
She served for 12 years as a member of the University of Portland Board of Regents, noting “it was a special place from the moment I set foot on the campus.” The University’s students are offered a well-rounded education, including an emphasis on community service, she stresses: “I believe in the end product of the University. It is a great investment.” Seal still pinches herself about what she was able to accomplish professionally. “It was a miracle and a dream.”University of Portland
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