Barbara Sue Seal | University of Portland

Barbara Sue Seal

Founder/Owner Barbara Sue Seal Properties

Barbara Sue Seal

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.”