Micha got her start in the aquatics industry in 1979 when her mother, Therese Seal, founded Seal Swim School in an above-ground pool in her backyard. As one of five children, Seal provided free bathroom escorts and hilarious entertainment in the pool to make the children smile.
Seal began teaching lessons with her mother and siblings and developed a lifelong passion for water safety and entrepreneurship. They built their first state-of-the-art facility with innovative pool equipment in 2005 in Lutz, Florida. In 2006, they purchased an existing swim school in South Tampa, which they remodeled, rebranded and opened within three months.
In 2014, they opened a third location in Wesley Chapel. In 2018, they both renovated their Lutz location and Seal opened a fourth location in Riverview. During Micha and Thereses 50/50 partnership, they grew the business from a backyard venture into a multi-location, multi-million-dollar company. By 2021, Seal acquired 100% ownership and rebranded to Watermelon Swim.
Watermelon Swim is a year-round, learn-to-swim business that teaches swimming, safety and survival from birth through adulthood. Watermelon Swims mission is to grow a community full of safer swimmers and reduce the risks while increasing confidence in and around water.
Seal created everything from the ground up with the help of her family and team. From the name to the colors to the mission statement, she had the opportunity to do something fresh, unique, and individual to her. The new brand has been incredibly successful. Watermelon Swim has seen unprecedented growth in its current facilities (currently teaching approximately 6,500 children a week) and Seal has three new facilities underway in Brooksville, Zephyrhills, and Brandon.
Micha is an innate leader. She has no formal education in business or entrepreneurship, said her staff. Her business knowledge and leadership instincts are self-taught, and she has a personality that draws people in and makes them raving fans and followers.
Seals efforts have led to the 2023 TBBW women of influence award, 2022 Tampa Chamber of Commerce leader of the year finalist, 2020 USF fast 56, 2019 and 2020 Hulafrogs most loved, 2018 Tampa Chamber of Commerce small business of the year, and 2016 USF fast 56.
She also has a quest to give back to the community. Watermelon Swim offers free water safety presentations to any school, daycare, parenting group, or any party interested in partnering in its mission and reducing drowning statistics in our community.
None of us reach greatness 100% on our own. It’s vital to become a leader people want to follow, said Seal. Learning to balance being kind with being tough has taken some time and wisdom. You want to be open and approachable for your team members, but you dont want to be seen as a pushover either.
