Forty Under 40: Lori Chalmers

Lori Chalmers was a customer before she joined Soderquist Leadership about three years ago.

She was inspired and impacted by the organization’s work and “really bought into the mission.”

She started as program manager/facilitator before quickly moving to director of operations. Her title was later changed to vice president of operations.

She’s responsible for “everything that happens with the customer,” logistics, “behind-the-scenes” work and about 18 staff members.

“Our mission is to impact people,” she said. It’s leadership development training.

She previously worked at Ozark Guidance Center for nine years and was on the executive team there for four years.

“I was assistant clinic director,” she said. Before that, she was a manager.

“I’m a therapist by training,” she said.

While at OGC, she developed a foster care outreach program that provides in-home therapy for families and foster children. In a year, the program went from no clients to needing to dedicate six to 10 therapists to it.

Chalmers, who is adopted, has a passion for foster care and adoption.

“I found my biological family four years ago,” she said.

Three years ago, she started a private practice, Chalmers Counseling Service, in downtown Fayetteville.

She became a licensed therapist in 2004 after graduating with a master’s degree in community counseling from Pittsburg State University in southeast Kansas.

In 2001, she graduated with two bachelor’s degrees from Ozark Christian College in Joplin.

She grew up in Springdale and graduated from Springdale High School in 1997.

She’s an avid reader and loves to hang out at the family lake house and Colorado cabin.