Barry Blanton, CPM®, CRE®

Chief Problem Solver / Principal & Co-Founder at Blanton Turner

2022 International President of IREM® (Institute of Real Estate Management)

As a founding principal and Chief Problem Solver at Blanton Turner, Barry Blanton brings a people-focused approach to property management and a deep understanding of how thoughtful management can create value for both real estate assets and the people who use them. Barry has dedicated more than 45 years to real estate and property management, helping owners and developers navigate the challenges of creating, operating, and repositioning real estate.

Barry began his career in real estate management in 1980 in Eugene, Oregon and has held executive roles with real estate management organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. His experience spans multifamily, commercial, student housing, and mixed-use developments, as well as real estate development consulting, strategic branding, and property management marketing.

In 2011, Barry and Heidi Turner founded Blanton Turner with a vision for a different kind of real estate management company that puts people at the center. Today, the Seattle-based firm provides services that begin well before a building opens its doors, including predevelopment, market studies, and demographics and psychographics, and continues with strategic branding, lease-up, and stabilized property management.

Barry’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that successful real estate is about more than operating buildings efficiently. It requires understanding the people who live, work, and spend time in those spaces, as well as the owners and communities invested in their success. That perspective has helped shape Blanton Turner’s approach to creating experiences that support both strong asset performance and meaningful human experiences.

His leadership in the industry extends well beyond Blanton Turner. Barry has earned the Certified Property Manager (CPM®) designation. Barry has held numerous leadership roles within IREM, served as the 2022 International President of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). IREM has 98 Chapters and nearly 20,000 credentialed members around the world.

Barry has also earned the CRE® designation as a member of The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE®), and has led CRE® Consulting Corps projects. CRE® is a global organization made up of fewer than 900 real estate professionals, and membership is offered to top industry practitioners by invitation only.

Throughout his career, Barry has advocated for evolving the property management profession. He has written and spoken about the changing role of technology, the importance of human interaction, the value of professional development, and the need to attract new talent to the industry. His perspective is that technology and innovation should make property management more effective, not less human, and that the best results come when professionals have the time and tools to focus on relationships, problem-solving, and creating better experiences.

Blanton Turner has received recognition for its approach to real estate management, including being named IREM’s international AMO® of the Year in 2016. The firm’s work reflects Barry’s longstanding belief that property management should be an active contributor to a property’s success rather than simply a function of day-to-day operations.

Blanton Turner has been recognized as one of Washington State’s Best 100 Places to Work in 2024 (#22), 2025 (#17) and 2026 (#6) by the Puget Sound Business Journal.

At his core, Barry is a problem solver. Whether helping shape a development before construction begins, finding a new strategy for a challenging asset, or thinking about the future of the property management profession, he brings curiosity, experience, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking. That philosophy continues to influence Blanton Turner’s work and its approach to helping owners create better-performing properties and better experiences for the people they were designed to serve.