Meet Lori Zehr
As Senior Brand Strategist, Lori serves both clients and creatives as we work to make impact. Meet Lori Zehr.
At Fervor, Lori is: Senior Brand Strategist. The first to hold this role in Fervor, Lori loves the chance to connect and communicate with clients and creatives alike. “I love serving clients and creatives who are all out to make an impact. And no two days are the same!”
What and where she studied: Lori earned her degree in Marketing and International Business from Iowa State University. She continued on to Bradley University in Peoria, where she received her MBA.
What brought her to KC: Lori is originally from Fort Dodge, Iowa. After college in Ames, Iowa, she moved to Peoria for her role at Caterpillar. From there, Lori was KC-bound. Today, she’s proud to call Parkville home.
Before Fervor: Lori began her career in field marketing for Caterpillar. Since then, she’s done everything from real estate to field marketing for Babies“R”Us to nonprofit work. Most recently, she was Executive Director of Retail for The GO Exchange (wholly owned by The Global Orphan Project, headquartered here in KC). In her role, she led a team of 40+ ambassadors, redesigned their direct sales program and helped create multiple new sales tools, including the organization’s first-ever retail catalog.
Milkshake magic: One of Lori’s favorite jobs was in sales and marketing for f’real foods. “I built the field marketing program at f’real and spent five years marketing milkshakes for a living. No kidding! Many of the stores I visited called me the Milkshake Lady, and I loved it. Nothing puts a smile on someone’s face like that first sip of a really great shake. And I was definitely the coolest mom at my kids’ school on Mom’s Career Share Day. Everyone in the class got a milkshake!”
Digs Fervor because: It’s the people, Lori says. “I’ve never worked anywhere that I’ve felt so comfortable being new so quickly. When I walked in the door, I immediately felt like part of the team and not just the new kid on the block.”
Family: Lori is married to Nate, her high school sweetheart, and they have two boys, Taylor and Carter. The newest addition to the family is a four-legged one: a Pointer Terrier mix puppy, Scout. “He’s so happy and just a ball of energy!”
A community she loves: Lori keeps in close contact with her seven best friends from high school. They get together at least once a year, and have met in a myriad of locations including New York City, Los Angeles, Rosemary Beach, FL, and even right here in KC. “I’ve known all of these women since I was eleven years old. Nobody knows me like my friends from back home, and it’s a blessing to have all of them in my life!”
Outside Fervor, you’ll find Lori: Two places — anywhere her family is, or running on a trail somewhere. Her favorite trail? The Parkville Nature Sanctuary. “It’s quiet, it’s beautiful and there’s always something to see,” she says. “I absolutely love it.”
Favorite KC restaurant: Westside Local, hands down. (And she fell in love with it well before starting her work at Fervor, by the way.)
Favorite place for a cup of coffee: While she’s more the chai tea type, Lori loves Parkville Coffee House.
Favorite reads: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is her all-time favorite. An avid reader, Lori loves many genres, from mysteries to books on business. Right now, she’s reading It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture, which dives into the unique service model and culture of Chick-fil-a.
What drives Lori up a wall: “I cannot stand it when someone has a dream they never try to reach,” she says. “It’s sad when someone has a goal, but doesn’t take the initiative to make it happen.” And another thing — “Mean people suck.”
Fervor wouldn’t be Fervor without . . . Lori’s passion for relationships: “I love making sincere connections with clients and building relationships.”
(Photo: Christina Lundeen Photography)