Lori Larsen prides herself on her client commitment and patriotism, as well as her people and business solutions. Her personal brand is “determined to succeed in life and
business through experiences, choices, and people.” This complements the Celestar Holdings Corporation’s approach to “providing intelligent consulting solutions to
Government and industry partners.” As the Chief Strategy Officer, and a team member of Celestar Holdings Corporation
since 2005, Lori’s reach extends beyond the internal organization to the customers of Celestar. Focused on service, developing strategies that fit needs, engaging people
who implement them, and growing the company through earning opportunities, Lori brings a wealth of military and business experience to the company and her partners.Her interests and efforts can be tracked back to 1998 when she was commissioned into the US Army as an Intelligence Officer.Lori’s military experiences include time spent as a military intelligence officer at all echelons. Lori spent time in a strategic intelligence unit at both Ft. Meade, MD and in Hawaii where she was selected early for Company Command. Lori went on to serve as a Division Artillery Intelligence Officer and then in the Division G2 where she was deployed to Afghanistan. Additionally, Lori served United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) as a liaison officer from Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan
(CFC-A). Upon joining Celestar Corporation in 2005, Lori served as a contractor
supporting the USCENTCOM J3 where she spearheaded multiple new initiatives for the
Department of Defense Rewards Program. It was then that she was approached by
Celestar to join the Business Operations team. Lori served as Celestar’s Director and
then Vice President of Business Development. Today, as the Chief Strategy Officer,
Lori navigates Celestar through significant expansion and recognition as one of the
fastest growing companies in the United States.
While Lori was born and raised in Wisconsin, she traveled the country, as she was
heavily involved in athletics, including being an Olympic-developed Pentathlon
competitor. Lori is still active in many sports, including swimming, running and biking.
Even with the option of a SEN nomination and appointment to the Air Force Academy,
Lori chose to accept a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship. Her selection served her well in
a family of driven sisters, who include a 2-time Olympian, a professional snowboarder,
and a teacher. Lori’s family owned a business and taught in the public-school systems,
so her desire to succeed and to give back are both evident in her family heritage. Lori
continues to be surprised by entrepreneurial views of experience vs. competencies, and
the similarities and differences between the military and business practices. Some of
her most impactful challenges was her deployment to Afghanistan and seeing Celestar
through difficult times to return to the thriving company it is today. Lori remembers the
birth of her son Guinn and winning her first Government contract as a couple of life’s
most memorable moments. Because of these experiences, and her drive to provide
solutions in a people business, Lori finds her business development opportunities a
driving force in her career. Lori holds a BA in International Affairs from Marquette
University in Milwaukee, WI and is a graduate of the Yale School of Management,
Global Executive Leadership Program, as well as certifications and many
accommodations from serving her country.
