Meet the Team

Over the past six decades, Martin Selig has turned his two person company into a billion dollar enterprise. He’s built his business (and much of the city) from the ground up, and he’s not stopping anytime soon.

So what’s his secret to doing business? Martin won’t tell, but some might say it’s the structure of his company: everything comes back to him. Where some developers have boards, partners, and commissions, Martin and Martin alone is at the helm of his ship. This enables him to make quick decisions and never keep people waiting. His advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs? Do it how he did: Jump in the deep and and see if you can swim.

While most people are either creative types or number gurus, Martin is an anomaly: he’s a creative spirit with billionaire business sense. His door is always open, and if his team needs anything, they need only enter his corner office with glass walls and a bird’s eye view of the city he’s built. Compared to other commercial real estate companies, he adds, his team has a lot more fun.

Martin’s favorite project is always his current project, and he’s happiest when there’s a hole in the ground, on its way to becoming the next addition to Seattle’s skyline. He’s also an artist and art connoisseur. He’s made many contributions to Seattle’s art scene, from the giant popsicle statue outside his property on 4th and Blanchard, to “Adam” by Fernando Botero outside the old Federal Reserve Building, to the John Henry “Songbird” Sculpture at 5th and Yesler, to the Barbara Hepworth “Three Obliques” at 645 Elliott, and the list goes on.

Martin got into the real estate business in 1958 because “he didn’t trust the stock market.” His team likens him to The Wizard of Oz and Walt Disney: someone with unparalleled imagination who’s unafraid to think outside the box. If he has a goal, he won’t stop until he’s achieved it. They say the reason for the company’s success is easy: it’s Martin. There’s only one Martin Selig.

Though Martin has called the Emerald City home for his entire life, he wasn’t born here: he and his family escaped Nazi Germany in 1940 by sneaking onto the Trans Siberian Railroad. They travelled through Europe and Asia by train, then boarded a boat bound for San Francisco from Japan. When their ship entered Elliott Bay the mountains were out and the sun was shining, so on a whim, his family ended their journey in Seattle. This place is Martin’s home, and he’s been here ever since. In his spare time, he enjoys riding motorcycles, skiing, and painting.

Theresa Howard, recently named one of the 15 Most Powerful Women in Seattle Real Estate by Bisnow, has been with Martin Selig Real Estate since 1982. She’s a lifelong Seattleite whose dedication to her tenants and years of experience put her among the best in the industry. From tenant support to mentoring junior team members, Theresa is committed to giving the most to the people she works with. She loves her job because she enjoys working with tenants, problem solving, and the community she’s built during her time with the company. There are only two people who have been with the company longer, she says, and one of them is Martin.

Theresa says she can count the number of women in commercial real estate on two hands, but that doesn’t slow her down. She often thinks like her male counterparts in order to succeed in a predominantly male industry. Women are shattering glass ceilings, she says, but there’s still a lot of headway to be made in commercial real estate.

When she isn’t working at Martin Selig Real Estate, you’ll probably find Theresa running along Seattle’s waterfront, poolside in Arizona, or at home with her two golden retrievers.

Read more about Theresa on our blog.

For Michael Brixner, customer service is the top priority. He strives to bring the highest value and best experience to all of his his tenants. Because Martin Selig directly employs all building operations personnel, Michael says, they are able to respond quickly to tenants’ needs and requests. This structure makes operations more efficient and enables him to build long term relationships with tenants.

Michael loves working at Martin Selig Real Estate because though it’s a hugely successful commercial real estate operation, it still feels like a mom and pop shop. He joined the company in 2015 and he says he benefits from mentorship from his team members who have been in the industry for decades.

Michael’s goals for the company moving forward are to continue to deliver the best service to his tenants and to continue Martin’s vision of the Seattle skyline. When he’s not working, the lifelong Seattleite is known to make the most of the summer months by hiking, golfing and playing softball, hit the slopes in the winter and loves to travel when he can.

Read more about Micheal on our blog.

As Martin Selig’s youngest daughter, Jordan grew up in the office. After graduating from Columbia University, where she studied environmental policy, Selig started to see how her passion for sustainability could play an important role in the future of real estate. Selig started her career in Berlin, Germany, where she put her studies into action by ecologically redeveloping pre-war buildings. In 2013, she returned to Seattle and now acts as MSRE’s Executive Vice President. She has been a key player in shaping the future of the company and has overseen the development of over 1.5 million square feet of space, including MSRE’s first multifamily property, The Modern.

Jordan is a Board Member of the Seattle 2030 District, an organization that aims to dramatically reduce the environmental impacts of building construction and operations across every sector of the built environment.

Jordan is also a member of the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) Policy Committee, a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Urban Development Mixed-Use Council (UDMUC), and a board member of the Runstad Center for Real Estate at the University of Washington.

In 2018, Jordan started her own company, J. Selig Real Estate, with the aim of developing market-rate multifamily buildings in the Seattle region and beyond. JSRE aims to deliver above-average yields to investors by developing buildings that are a step above the competition in terms of architecture and design, hospitality and management, and sustainability and equity.

Aside from her professional endeavors, Jordan is a wife and mother of two. In her free time, she enjoys downhill skiing, road cycling, and rock climbing. She is fluent in German and Swedish.

Read more about Jordan Selig on our blog.

The most recent Selig family member to join the family business, David Selig brings his vast real estate academic knowledge and business management skills to Martin Selig Real Estate. Having successfully completed a Masters Degree in Real Estate from the University of Washington, as well as several Harvard Real Estate Certificates, David blends his academic knowledge with his uncanny people skills when managing tenant relationships. David has developed, managed and owned his own restaurants, and has established himself at MSRE as a team player with extensive real-life staff and business management skills that help influence his approach to finance and leasing.

Born and raised in Seattle, David has a genuine connection and deep roots in this beautiful city.  When he’s not working, he’s a huge Seahawks fan and an avid foodie and snowboarder. Recently, David spent six years living abroad in Tel Aviv, and continues to be an ardent traveler and explorer.

Casey Gibson joined the leasing team in February 2022. Prior to joining the team, Casey spent a decade working in commercial real estate brokerage at Colliers International. During his tenure in brokerage, Casey represented tenants and landlords in lease and sale transactions for office, industrial and retail properties in Seattle. Casey has a genuine desire to help others and always conducts himself with courtesy and professionalism.

Casey holds a Master of Science in Real Estate degree from the University of Washington. His formal education in real estate, coupled with his experience in brokerage, make him well suited for MSRE’s customer-first approach to leasing. Casey looks forward to serving the needs of current and future tenants in the MSRE portfolio.

In his free time, you will find Casey on the golf course or tromping around the Issaquah Alps with his boys; one human child and one Labrador.