Henrik Ibsen once said “A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.” Michael Steadman, civic leader and owner of Lacey’s Steadman Properties, comes from a family where such open-hearted activism is the norm.
Steadman is currently a Lacey City Councilmember, on the Board of Directors for the Miss Thurston County pageant, and member of the Thurston Economic Development Council, Lacey South Sound Chamber Board, Gateway Rotary Club, and many more.
He echoes this community altruism in his family’s multi-generational business. Steadman Properties is both family- and veteran-owned and works for the success of businesses around the Thurston County. Amongst their properties are the Cooper Point Public House, Crown Signs, Tacoma Screw’s Olympia location, and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission’s local offices.
Coming from a long line of blue-collar, union job tradesmen, Steadman’s father Jim and uncle Paul started the company as young men. Michael’s uncle was the first in their family to attend college and purchased his initial property with a goal of retiring by age 50. Paul Steadman attended WSU and later became the Dean of Students at Pierce College.
Jim Steadman followed in his brother’s footsteps and recruited his sons as the workforce. The boys learned every aspect of property management from construction to plumbing and sheet metal. Jim was able to parlay this into the purchase of 20 homes in 20 years.
Once they officially formed a property management company, Paul Steadman’s holdings were divided between residential and commercial properties while Jim focused exclusively on commercial buildings. The overall goal of the company is to maintain a trust which helps family members pay for college. To date they have funded the education of three relatives and look forward to future generations.
As did much of his family, Michael took a blue collar job after a stint in the Marine Corps. He worked in the sheet metal industry but willingly gave up a solid union position to come home when his father became sick. Since taking over, the business has more than doubled in size.
Both in work and politics, Steadman strives to build a strong, vibrant region; “if other businesses are healthy, I’m healthy.”
He continues, “This is where my home is, we’re vested here. If people do business with us, it does justice to the little guys. But to be any kind of leader, in business or otherwise, you have to be involved in the community. That’s what makes it a home.”
Outside of work, Michael’s time on various boards and committees is a passion. He believes his time with Miss Thurston County and the Lacey South Sound Chamber “helps ensure successful businesses because they are the catalyst that drives the economy and members of service clubs do the things government cannot and should not do.”
He has been instrumental in the Lacey City Council plastic bag ban, voicing concerns about troop reduction at JBLM, and lighthearted events like this year’s Polar Bear Plunge, Chamber of Commerce activities, and holiday poinsettia sales.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a rising trend in the use of such professionals; “property owners are becoming increasingly aware that property management firms help make properties more profitable and improve the resale value of homes and commercial property.” This value increases even more with someone who has invested his life and family into our community.
Business owners interested in buying, selling, or leasing property are encouraged to contact Michael and his team by calling 360-790-7947 or 360-493-1484. You can also follow Steadman Properties on Facebook or reach out to Steadman in his role on the Lacey City Council.
