Truly Telluride Volume 32 : Page 5
PEOPLE  Featured Broker Profiles STEPHEN CIECIUCH (CHET-CHU): Being a successful real estate broker is an art form and as an avid artist and photographer Steve Cieciuch lends these traits to his daily real estate practice. Steve is passionate about and appreciates sophisticated architecture and the execution of fine finish detail. He looks at property as if he were looking through a camera lens, artfully explaining the subtleties to help clients choose one property over another. He values relationships and enjoys meeting new people and learning about their desires for Telluride area real estate. “It’s a tremendous sense of fulfillment when a client continually exudes excitement about a home they purchased decades ago. It means they fulfilled their dreams and I was a part of it. Reflecting on advice his father gave him early on “respect, listening and follow through are keys to success -you can’t learn with your mouth open.” A credo he follows to this day; Steve listens to his clients, understanding their wishes and motivations, ultimately leading to a personalized experience. When out walking the land, or understanding the specifics of a property, Steve relies on his knowledge of the Telluride market place and his creative vision. This level of composition is evident in his market share of listings and the number of sales he has successfully completed. Steve started Telluride Properties with Stephen Butts in Aspen, 21 years ago, with a mission to introduce customers to the experience of mountain home ownership and the amazing Telluride lifestyle. Tragically, Stephen Butts passed away in 2005, yet Steve Cieciuch relies daily on the lessons and wisdom he gained from his friend and mentor. He is committed to carrying the torch and implementing the vision they established when they first opened the doors of Telluride Properties. Steve lives in historic Telluride with his wife Kendall and 19 month old daughter, Jula. DAMON DEMAS: Telluride has been home to Damon and Elaine for eighteen years, slightly less so for their daughter Chrysanthe (15) and son Sammy (13). Surrounded by the San Juan Mountains and tucked away in a box canyon, they would be hard pressed to live anywhere else. The allure of a lifestyle so different from the new England of their youth captivated them. The ability to live within a community of diverse and wonderful people, surrounded by unsurpassed natural beauty, while basking in a tolerant climate was too compelling to resist-they surrendered, and in hind sight, it was one of the best decisions Damon and Elaine have made in life. In raising their children here they have been involved in numerous kid’s activities from ski racing to school projects and community theatre. During their years in Telluride, between the two of them, Damon and Elaine have run the Telluride Wine Festival, created the Telluride Yoga Festival, presided over the Telluride Academy and Telluride Ski Ranches HOA, sat on the board of Just For Kids Foundation and participated in virtually every facet of Telluride’s social and cultural communities. Of equal importance, they have perfected the art of western slope living by exploring the mountains, rivers and deserts surrounding Telluride, skiing hard and taking advantage of the extraordinary lifestyle that southwest Colorado offers. It is these years spent in the Telluride saddle, working and living day to day, that has resulted in the accumulation of a wealth of experience for Damon and Elaine, from the Real Estate market to the myriad issues and activities that are relevant within our happy valley. Come say hello when you are in town! CARRIE KOENIG: Carrie approaches life with a tremendous amount of energy and determination. After graduating from Cornell’s engineering program in 1991, Carrie diverged from the corporate path and hitched a ride to Colorado, landing in Telluride. Her mom was less than thrilled to learn that she was living out of a tent, had no phone, and biked back and forth to town. However, It didn’t take long for Carrie to buy land and act as the general contractor for her first home. This was the beginning of her diverse career and interest in real estate. She then went on to work in land surveying, mapping, construction accounting, market analysis, residential development project management, and several other real estate related roles. Carrie received her MBA in 2001 further adding to her skill set as a realtor. Carrie was born and raised in Los Altos, CA. She was fortunate enough to experience a strong sense of community throughout her childhood, something she has come to value tremendously later in life. There are many reasons why people are drawn to Telluride, but for Carrie, the sense of community has been by far the most important aspect of her 17 years here. Business school taught Carrie a lot about analysis, investment, and evaluating returns, but she believes more and more that the best returns may actually be from things less tangible like lifestyle and life experiences. Such experiences keep you smiling years after the fact and maintain their value regardless of the economy. Having a home-base in Telluride, whether full-time or part-time, is an investment in life experience.
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