20 Under 40: Chelsea Lenherr
Chelsea’s assertiveness and ability to bring people together has served her well for the last eight years at Advisors Excel. As a Relationship Manager on Matt Neuman’s team, she is responsible for managing, building and maintaining relationships with advisors and insurance carriers. However, her natural athletic abilities have lent her talents to organizing the company’s “FUN Committee” sporting events and has led Advisors Excel to be undefeated in the Topeka Corporate Games.
Outside of work, Chelsea enjoys including her family in her volunteer efforts. Her stepdaughters, Reese and Josie, often join her on her Meals on Wheels route. She has involved them in volunteerism and “bursts with pride to see how serving others” excites them. Chelsea has been a “Big Sister” through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for over five years and also enjoys volunteering through Club Blue, Junior Achievement and the Junior League of Topeka.
“I lead through project implementation and by bolstering team morale with my positive outlook and resolve—seeing each hurdle as a welcome challenge rather than a roadblock.”
What energizes you outside of work?
Traveling! Whether a day trip, weekend road trip or cross country flight, I love exploring and visiting friends and family outside of Topeka.
What trip has impacted you the most?
My sister and I went to Croatia after college. We spent the week driving along the Adriatic Sea from one end of the country to the other. We didn’t use our phones or any technology to get us from one place to the next, and as frustrating as that was at the time, it made for an incredible and unforgettable adventure for us!
What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it?
Not being vocal enough. I learned the answer is always “no” if you don’t ask the questions.
What is the most important personal attribute that you bring to your job?
Flexibility. In an industry where there is constant change, I consider myself to be extremely flexible and have a “go with the flow” mentality. You never know what issues will arise day-to-day, so it’s important to be able to adjust to change of direction with ease.
