Sandy Licciardello

COVER STORY

WRITTEN BY LALEY FREEMAN | PHOTOS BY JJHOMES PHOTOGRAPHY

Sandy Licciardello is a multi-million dollar producer with Coldwell Banker in Tulsa, OK. She attributes her success to her hard work, determination and ability to connect and communicate with any person she encounters. Her story is one of triumph in the face of adversity and of success, not just financially but also in family and faith.

A Young Entrepreneur

Although she was born in Michigan, Sandy's parents, Lon and Rose Steele, decided to move to the sunny state of California just a few months after she was born. The decision to raise their children in California is one that Sandy appreciates and looks back on fondly, recognizing that her childhood helped to shape the trajectory of her life.

As the daughter of entrepreneurs, Sandy learned the power of business at a very early age. Her parents ran an automobile business, founded the Dog and Suds franchise, and also sold produce. By the age of 7, Sandy was already behind the cash register, running it like a pro. “I really looked up to my parents. They gave me the best life, not for what they left me but for what they instilled in me,” she told us.

By the age of 13, she was selling and detailing cars. She vividly remembers how excited she was when she made her first sale and how good it felt to make her own money for the first time. By 14, she had her very own car — a Pontiac Firebird Formula 400.

In addition to discovering her love of business at an early age, she also developed a love for horses and animals — a passion that continues to be a huge part of her life to this day. At 13, she was given her very first horse as a gift from her older brother. She started spending time with her father's best friend, Dewey, who had a daughter her age and also owned horses. Little did she know, the relationships that were developed through this mutual interest would deeply impact the course of her life.

Dewey worked as a high-end REALTOR® in Huntington Beach, CA. As Sandy continued to spend time with Dewey and his daughter Martha, she began to imagine what it would be like if she were a REALTOR®. At 17, she began working as a receptionist for Century21® and was hired onto the team when she turned 18.

At the age of 21, she made her first business investment with her parents in the automobile industry, an industry that she has always been passionate about. Because of her success in business, she was then able to purchase her first home, a miniature ranch, where she and her daughter, Rose, would live.

Never dreaming of leaving California, Sandy knew she wanted to plant deep roots in the state she called home. As her success as a real estate agent and investor continued to trend upward, she and Rose enjoyed their life together on the ranch. It wasn’t until she met Mario Licciardello at a horse auction that her life would truly begin to change.

The Big Move

At 29, Sandy married the love of her life, Mario Licciardello. Mario worked as the director of security for his brother Carman, a well-known contemporary Christian singer and songwriter. When Carman decided to make a big move to Oklahoma, Mario and Sandy followed, excited for the possibilities that were ahead.

The Licciardellos found the perfect place to call home — a 30-acre oasis nestled between Glenpool and Mounds. They built a beautiful home along with a horse breeding and showing facility and began to settle into their new life. Shortly after moving, they welcomed their daughter, Loni, into the world. Although Loni was their first biological daughter together, Mario made the decision to legally adopt Rosie because he viewed her as his own.

Mario worked in law enforcement as chief of police for many years, but he and Sandy decided to go into private practice together as armed private investigators. On May 3, 2000, while working on a high-profile case, Mario suffered a heart attack and died suddenly at Enlow's Auction in Sapulpa, OK. "I met Mario at a horse auction, and the last place I ever saw him was at an auction. It was what he loved," she told us.

All the Way: A New Season

After her husband’s death, Sandy was faced with an unexpected question. “What do you want your headstone to say?” an employee at Memorial Park asked her as she was selecting her husband’s headstone. Shocked by the question, she paused. But, after a few moments, she knew exactly what it would be. “All the way,” she replied.

Sandy has always been known for her willingness to go all the way in every situation. Whether she’s working with a client, going through a difficult time or struggling to finish a project she has started, she is committed to going all the way.

With the passing of her husband and her family still living in California, Sandy was left to raise their two daughters and care for the ranch on her own. “I heard the whispers of those around me, saying that I would fold up and go back to California, but I knew that I had to take care of this ranch and our girls … so I persevered,” she remembered. On a cold and rainy night in September of 2001, Sandy bought a commercial car lot in Mounds and threw herself back into the car business. “It’s time to get back on the saddle,” she declared.

Between the ranch and horse facility, her husband’s career, their work as private investigators and the chaos that comes with being a parent, Sandy had not returned to her work as a real estate agent since moving to Oklahoma. “Not long after purchasing the car lot, I met the legendary Gay Downing. She asked me why I hadn’t gotten my Oklahoma license yet. She said, ‘I know you can do it.’ Another friend of mine, Melanie VanBurch, a luxury agent in Las Vegas, also urged me to get back into real estate," she recalled.

Although she felt encouraged by her friends, it was a conversation she had in Nashville, TN, that gave her the nudge she needed. “I was at the hospital seeing Dewey for the last time. He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Sandy, go get your license, kid.’ I took that as a sign to go home and get it.” As soon as she got home, she got her license. It wasn’t long before she met one of her mentors, Barbara Ragan, the first female broker and owner of Riverside Realty in Jenks, OK. “She took me under her wing. I knew that with two trailblazers in the real estate industry, Barbara and Gay, on my side, I could do this,” she said.

Friends, Family and Faith

“As a REALTOR®, you have to learn to be a listener. It’s one of the most stressful businesses I have ever been a part of, but it is also the most rewarding,” she said. Over the years, Sandy has become known as the “land lady” but believes that remaining diversified is the key to success. She represents land sales, new construction, commercial real estate and more. She also firmly believes that "the highest award and honor [she] can ever receive is a referral."

“When COVID-19 hit, I thought the market was going to crash. In 2021, my brother-in-law, Carman, passed away. My brother, Bob, had heart surgery. My daughter Loni, who was stricken with Pulmonary Hypertension and Right-Sided Heart Failure at the height of her entertaining career, had to be taken to Mayo Clinic for treatment. On top of all of that, I fell very ill and was hospitalized as well, and soon became the primary caretaker of a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old due to struggles my oldest daughter is facing,” she said. “But, nonetheless, I recently found out that I did $22 million in sales and had the honor of being named Top Agent with Coldwell Banker during all of this. I was so blessed to have worked alongside and learned from one of the best developers in Tulsa, Jerry Gordon with Gordon Developments LLC, who built the Riverwalk. I truly believe that God gave me favor and had his hand on me through it all. I know in my heart that my year would not have been this successful without my Coldwell Banker family — my lenders, appraisers, closers and wonderful clients to whom I give great thanks."

Sandy is also thankful for the love and support she receives from her family and friends; her two biological daughters, Rosie and Loni; a non-biological daughter, Ashley, whom they welcomed into their family in 2010; her son-in-law, Mikey Bivins; her sister, Patty Kilcoyne; her brother, Bob Steele; and two grandchildren, Legend and Legacy. “I see family and friends as gifts of life, just like I was raised,” she said.

The Next Chapter: Licciardello & Associates Real Estate

As she embarks on the next chapter of her life, Sandy is excited to announce the Licciardello & Associates Real Estate group. “My daughter Loni is getting her real estate license and will be joining the team, in addition to seven others,” she told us. "I'm excited for the opportunity to give back and mentor others — to help them achieve their dreams the way that I was mentored in the beginning of my career. I'm hopeful for the future of real estate, and I can't wait to see what this next chapter has in store for all of us."