President and CEO
Lisa is many things…a visionary entrepreneur, Marine Corps veteran, a fighter, an innovator, a dedicated patriot. Above all else, she is a leader.
Lisa founded Constellation West in 1997 after serving in the Marine Corps, earning a business degree, and starting a family. Since then, she has grown the company into a multi-million dollar IT engineering powerhouse, with nearly 200 employees across 20 states. Today, she is an award-winning business leader, who has been recognized not only for her business success, but also for her dedication to supporting our nation’s veterans.
Lisa began her service to country when she joined the Marine Corps in 1981 and was honorably discharged in 1985, having attained the rank of Corporal. While in the Corps, she initially worked in Communications as a Field Radio Operator, later moving to the Battalion level working as Unit Diary Clerk before being promoted to Assistant Unit Diary Chief.
After graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a triple specialization in Management Information Systems, Accounting and Japanese Strategic Information Systems, Lisa served as a consultant on engagements such as information and technology project management, methodology implementation, architectural and software design, development, and testing.
She founded Constellation West, focusing primarily on delivering IT solutions for the commercial marketplace, including Ameritrade, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Commercial Federal, Computer Sciences Corporation, ConAgra, First Data Resources, HDR, Honeywell, InfoUSA, State of Nebraska, Pamida, Raytheon, The Interpublic Group, and Union Pacific Railroad.
In 2001, Lisa extended her service to country by steering Constellation West into the federal marketplace, landing contracts with agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force Weather Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, 100 percent of the company’s business comes from federal contracts.
The U.S. Small Business Administration recognized Lisa for her active support boosting opportunities for veterans in business and advocating for special consideration for veteran-owned small businesses in government.
Strongly committed to supporting America’s veterans, Lisa currently serves as a board member for At Ease, an organization that provides free or reduced fee PTSD treatment for veterans and their families, and is a past board member of Task Force for Veterans Entrepreneurship, and the National Association of Veteran Owned Businesses Association (NaVOBA). Lisa has been a guest speaker at many veteran-focused programs and events, like “Boots to Business”, a training program developed to introduce and train transitioning service members to business ownership. She actively mentors SDVOSB and WOSB firms.
