The Business Bio
Laura Lollar, is Founder of Communicate Colorado, a veteran-owned communication consulting, facilitation and freelance writing business in Colorado Springs. She has supported clients throughout Colorado, the U.S., Canada, Germany and Great Britain and is focused on serving the outdoors industry. For over 25 years, Laura has worked with Fortune 50 firms, non-profits, the U.S. military, trusts, boards, independent businesses and trade associations. Laura has spoken on three continents for groups of 5-500 and was twice designated a Meeting Professionals International “Platinum Program Speaker” for her engaging and substantive style.
Laura has facilitated board meetings, strategic planning sessions, marketing summits, leadership retreats, townhalls, staff development and partnering sessions. Her clients have included Christian Meetings & Conventions Association, Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare, Recreation at Fort Carson CO, Cabela’s World’s Foremost Outfitters, ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Colorado Horse Council, Junior Achievement, State of Florida, Professional Bull Riders, National High School Rodeo Association and many others. Click here for a partial client list.
As a freelance writer, Laura’s articles have been featured in online journals, newspapers and trade magazines as well as newsletters and articles for a public relations/public involvement firm. She recently published Wildfire Survivors: A How-to Guide on Your Road to Recovery. She will also soon release The CARLA Concept and Cabin Mama Stories (Pinehurst Press, 2025).
Earlier in her career, Laura was a Customer Service and Sales Team Manager who supervised an operations team of 100+ employees at Current Inc. She also led an upsell and cross-sell initiative at that 400-person call center which achieved almost $1M in added revenue. At the Rochester Institute of Technology and National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID), Laura was a Senior Human Resources and Employee Benefits Specialist who supported over 2500 faculty and staff, including the deaf and hearing-impaired.
Laura is creator of the CARLA Concept™ Communication Model and author of the handbook by the same name. She is a skilled facilitator in Everything DiSC Workplace Behavioral Styles profiles. Her work has been featured on television and radio. Laura has been a commencement speaker and guest lecturer at colleges and universities on leadership, communication, customer service, career and professional success.
As a decorated Non-commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force, Laura served her country with seven years active duty as a Paralegal and Claims Manager. She was also a volunteer member of the Base Honor Guard Team, where she provided military honors for deceased service members in support of their families. During her enlistment, she attended the Non-commissioned Officers Leadership School and earned a USAF Commendation Medal, Marksmanship Ribbon and an Honorable Discharge.
Laura has volunteered for the Home Front Cares Welcome Home Heroes Program, Junior Achievement, Young Women of the West and Colorado State Parks and Wildlife. She also served on the boards of the National Speakers Association Colorado Chapter and is Past-president of the Colorado Springs Society for Human Resources Management. Laura served two three-year terms in a public-at-large role on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Advisory Council (RAC) for the Colorado Frontrange. She also served on the board of the Black Forest, Colorado, Educational Opportunity Foundation (EOF), a scholarship program for high school seniors. Laura is a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Colorado-Israel Chamber of Commerce.
Want to speak with me about a project or program? Please contact me at your earliest convenience. Best regards, Laura
THE PERSONAL STORY
The eldest in a big Catholic family, Laura grew up in Upstate New York among the woods and waters of the Finger Lakes area. Dad was a farmer and Mom was a city girl. Together they raised six children who all eventually moved to Colorado. Laura published her first newsletter articles on a blue mimeograph machine when the nuns weren’t watching. She joined the United States Air Force after high school to serve her country and get a college degree. Laura has worked at a college, in a phone center, sold vinyl checkbook covers, cleaned stalls on a 400 head horse farm and blogged for the Mayor of Colorado Springs. She launched her business in 1997 and has traveled the world facilitating, speaking and consulting. Laura raised her three young un’s in a townhouse and later moved to a 1924 log cabin in Black Forest, Colorado. She lost it all in a 2013 wildfire and then rebuilt. Laura and her husband Doug were married in 2017 and live in Black Forest near Colorado Springs. Laura has hunted deer and elk in northwest Colorado, and enjoys camping and kayaking. She also writes humor at CabinMama.com.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“It was the best class we ever had at Fort Carson. We need you back!” —Sean Stewart, Director NAF Support Division at USAG Fort Carson, Colorado
“If you are looking for a top-notch trainer for your next speaking engagement, look no further! Laura (Benjamin) Lollar is an incredible, engaging, and powerful speaker. We were very fortunate to have her expertise at a Staff Development Day training where she gave our folks extremely useful skills around the topic of Internal Customer Service. Not only is she an incredible trainer, she is highly organized, easy to work with, and skilled in her field. Thank you Laura, for everything you did for my staff! Positive Affirmations have been pouring out from them since our training!” — Angela Ibrahim, Pikes Peak Library District, Colorado Springs CO
From Junior Achievement’s National Leadership Conference: Employee Retention
- “Laura’s humor paired with her step-by-step toolkit made this workshop topnotch. I loved her real-world applications and how she connected everything to a personal example or story. I am glad I elected to attend THIS workshop!” —Ashley Adamson
- “Laura’s session helped me not only gain tools to communicate with the ‘Godzillas’ in my world, but see that I’m not alone.” —Tammy Bixby
- “Go for ‘No’ BLEW my mind!” —S.S.
- “I really enjoyed this session and feel it will seamlessly translate back to my office and be easily applicable. She weaved in humor and kept it fun! Loved it! —Anonymous
From USA Volleyball National Conference: Dealing with Difficult People
- Easy to understand. No dead points or lulls in conversation. —Quinton Kraeer
- She had some great information about how to deal with very difficult people. Highly recommend. —Amber Turner
- Dense, realistic tools (in one hour) to deal with difficult people. —John Kessel
- Laura, you’ve always been fantastic. You rock! So glad to make contact with you again! —Carla Hall
- A very good speaker who suggested good tools to use both in everyday life and in the work environment. —Amber Scott
- Very charismatic, great speaker. —Irina Day
- Great, upbeat, concise effective speaker. —Tim Ambruso
- Inspirational. Informative. Engaging. —Patricia Daughert
