Michael and Cassandra arrived in the San Juans for the first time in 1996 and immediately fell in love with Orcas Island. They bought property during that visit and vacationed on the island during the next two years. In July of 1998 they left their careers in Nevada and made Orcas their home. They are currently filling their free time with an ongoing house-building project.

Background

Cassandra was born in Walla Walla, Washington. Her father was in the Air Force and they moved 15 times before she graduated from high school in Rome, Italy in 1966.

Michael was born in Vancouver, B.C. and permanently came to the U.S. in 1953. Eventually his family moved to northern Nevada where he lived for 40 years. They both graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with masters degrees in education, which became their first careers. Michael spent 29 years in a variety of positions including high school teacher, counselor, activities director, assistant principal and principal. Cassandra spent 13 years as a teacher and associate professor in the College of Education at UNR. During her teaching career she taught first through third grade and a number of combination classrooms. She also taught in a demonstration classroom at the university and taught undergraduate classes in art and reading instruction to primary education majors.

Real Estate Experience

Michael and Cassandra began their second careers, in real estate, in the spring of 1999 with Windermere. In June 2003 they obtained their brokers licenses. Michael now serves as the Branch Manager of the Windermere Orcas office. Cassandra is an Associate Broker. They are both active in the Orcas Island Association of Realtors. In 2005 Cassandra served as president of the local association.

Personal Background and Interests

Michael and Cassandra have been married for 24 years and have four grown children who are scattered from South Carolina to southern California. They are blessed with five healthy grandchildren. All they have at home these days to spoil is their Yorkie, Winston, who you will undoubtedly greet if you drop by the Windermere office when you are on island.

Since coming to Orcas, Michael has become involved in a number of community activities. Currently he is on the Board at OPAL, the community land trust and serves as President of the Board for the Lambiel Museum. Cassandra is the director of the religous education program at St. Francis Catholic Church on Orcas. They love to spend their free time on their new boat exploring the diversity and beauty of the waterways of the Pacific Northwest.