About Us
Cherie L. Lindholm Real Estate (est. 1968) is one of the oldest full service real estate companies on Orcas Island. We’re a family; not a franchise! Serving this island for over a quarter century, our company offers a full line of real estate services. We offer the largest property management company on Orcas Island. If you would like to rent before buying, we may have a rental for you. Or if you’d like the peace of mind having an on-island manager brings, call us. We also offer buyer representation to make your real estate transaction much easier and comfortable as a buyer. We are not affiliated with any major franchise organization, although we’ve been asked many times to be a part of that world. We really believe in the personal touch and service to our customers and clients, in old fashioned values, and ethics. Our brokers offer nearly 100 years combined of sales and management experience and customer satisfaction in real estate. We offer these services to you to help you in all your real estate needs.
Call one of our professional people today.
Karen J. Key Speck, Co-owner, Designated Broker, Property Manager
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Ken Speck, Co-owner, Associated Broker
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John Erly, Associated Broker
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Staff Biographies and Experience
Karen Speck
Co-owner, Designated Broker, Property Manager
My real estate career began shortly after I moved to Orcas in 1985. I have been a licensed Broker for nearly 40 years, selling, listing and managing property. In 1994, my husband and I purchased Cherie L. Lindholm RE from it’s 1968 founder Cherie Lindholm. We appreciated and supported Cherie’s values and are proud to carry on a tradition of local, friendly hometown service as compared to national franchise corporations.
After years of selling real estate, I decided to concentrate on the property management side of our business and leave the sales up to my fine staff of experienced brokers. My 37 years of property management experience is supported through hundreds of happy homeowners and thousands of happy renters and vacation guests. I am an honored recipient of the Realtor of the Year Award in 2002. After selling the vacation rental side of the business in 2019, I returned to also selling real estate. Cherie L. Lindholm Real Estate & Property Mgt. is the oldest property management company in all of the San Juans Islands.
That’s experience!
My life before Orcas was in commercial radio where I was an on air personality and news anchor in Indianapolis and Seattle/Tacoma. While property management is a 24/7 job, I also have made time for my community. I am co-conductor of the Orcas Island Community Band, a member of several other musical groups, on the Board of the Orcas Family Health Center, past board member of the Lions Club, MC for the annual Fourth of July Parade, and a sponsor and member of many, many community clubs and events. I am passionate about helping others as well as fishing, Star Trek, cats and music.
Ken Speck
Ken Speck / Co-Owner / Broker
Ken attended Kent State University where he majored in Radio-TV. He worked in Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Seattle. During his thirty years in the industry Ken was an on-air radio personality, TV host, manager, professional musician, band leader and advertising agency owner. Upon moving to Orcas Island, he took a new career path in real estate sales.
Now entering his 37th year on Orcas Island, Ken has facilitated many listings and sales over his long island tenure. It’s fun to have such depth of island knowledge; to be able to recall who originally developed a parcel, who first built that house, who bought it next, who added that garage and so forth. This breadth of knowledge is hard to match and is a valuable asset for Buyers and Sellers alike.
Ken has been active his entire life in community service. His involvement includes the MDA Telethon, CASPER Award, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Community Band, Orcatrazz Swing Band, Musical Advocacy Group, mentor to students at the local school, and past President of the Orcas Family Health Center and the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce.
Ken has been active his entire life in community service. His involvement includes the MDA Telethon, CASPER Award, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Community Band, Orcatrazz Swing Band, Musical Advocacy Group, mentor to students at the local school, and past President of the Orcas Family Health Center and the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce. Ken is also a 2017 inductee to the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.
