Meet Maree Lerchen

While Living in the charming small town of Packwood, Maree Lerchen was immersed in the natural beauty of the area. Over the years, she’s even developed a tolerance for the local elk herd and now gardens in pots and planters near her deck, safely inside a fence. Maree loves entertaining family and friends who visit to explore Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and the White Pass ski area. Sharing her home with a rescued Springer Spaniel and two kitties, she enjoys a vibrant and fulfilling life. Her three grown daughters and an adult grandson are a constant source of pride and joy. While a dedicated community activist, Maree was passionate about promoting tourism and economic stability in the region.

Maree’s connection to real estate runs deep, with both of her grandmothers and her step-mother having been real estate brokers in California. Growing up around the exciting business, she was naturally drawn to it. Licensed since 1988, Maree spent a few years with Windermere in the Auburn, Washington area before focusing on property management in East Lewis County from 1992 to 2005, all while running a small resort, operating a full-service real estate sales and property management firm occupied her waking hours.

Maree’s educational journey began at Covina High School in California, graduating with honors in 1964. She then attended Principia College in Illinois and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Maree later earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington, Seattle, followed by graduate studies in Finance and Marketing at Seattle University.

Her varied employment history includes roles as a Library Clerk at Cal Poly, Contracts Administrator in Seattle, and Human Resources at Meier & Frank in Portland. She also worked as an Assistant to the Director at the Dept. of Energy, a Consultant on Document Retrieval Systems for Weyerhaeuser Co., and Contracts/Marketing Administrator at KCM Engineers. In 1981, she ventured into commissioned sales for professional office filing systems. Maree then served as Owner/President of Tatoosh Meadows Corporation, a small resort and property management business, before becoming the Owner/Designated Broker of Mountain Valley Real Estate in Packwood in 2006.

Maree’s commitment to her community is evident through her involvement in various organizations, including the League of Women Voters, Destination Packwood Association, White Pass Scenic Byway, and more. She has held leadership roles such as Chair of the Resource Advisory Council and member of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.

In 2021 Maree sold the business to Christine Prebble and Larry Kneeland and then made the decision in 2023 to move to Centralia, she is still very hands on with the business and is the designated broker for the company until she is ready to fully retire.