Elkhart Chamber names Lori Snyder as 2018 Woman of the Year

 

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind.—The Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce named local real estate agent, Lori Snyder, as their 2018 Woman of the Year on March 1.

“The people that made it happen don’t even realize what they’ve done in terms of how they made me feel. They made me feel a part of the community,” Snyder said.

The Chamber says the purpose of the award is to recognize one woman who has distinguished herself in the organization, her profession, and her community.

“They are just like the biggest cheerleaders for all of us in business and so I was very flattered and honored to receive that because I know of some of the previous women who had went ahead and to think ‘man, I was chosen to be in that group,’ it meant a lot,” Snyder said.

Snyder manages over 28 local real estate agents for Berkshire Hathaway of Northern Indiana. She also continues to list and sell properties herself.

She says the award, given out just in time for International Women’s Day on March 8, makes her work feel worth it.

“We’re all so busy doing our lives and our work and then all of a sudden it’s like it comes together at one point and you’re like ‘wow I guess it can make a difference,’” Snyder said.

After graduating for Indiana University South Bend, Snyder has spent her entire professional life in Elkhart County.

She began her career in criminal justice, working as a juvenile probation officer and social worker for the Elkhart Circuit Court.

Snyder even became one of the first social workers placed in the Elkhart School system when the schools began test running social workers.

Snyder then found success in real estate and has been in the business for over 25 years.

Having co-founded the northern Indiana Women in Business organization, Snyder has a bit of advice to share with local women interested in entrepreneurship.

“There are women all around you in this area and they’re hidden, they’re secrets, they’re gems, because they’re so hard working but they’re out there. Reach out, pick up the phone, don’t text them, call them, and say ‘I want to take you to lunch because I want to pick your brain’ and they will do it,” Snyder said.