Jennifer VanDerHorst-Larson

Founder and CEO,
Vibrant Technologies, Holland Center and St. Croix Solutions

Did you ever “play Dairy Queen” as a child, taking turns serving and receiving delicious, imaginary ice cream treats? Featured Lady Jennifer VanDerHorst-Larson did and her entrepreneurial aspirations were apparent early on – she always declared herself owner and boss, telling her friends and sisters what to do.

As an adult, Jennifer launched four companies in a myriad of industries ranging from health and wellness and computer hardware to pediatric mental rehabilitation services and information technology. Jennifer’s Minneapolis-based companies include Momentum Pilates Studio, Vibrant Technologies, Holland Center and St. Croix Solutions. She was named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and has appeared in Fortune Small Business, The New York Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, Computer World, Inc. Magazine, and on BizJournal.com and CNN Money.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in marketing, psychology and speech communications, Jennifer sold educational software until opening Momentum Pilates Studio in 1996. Two years later, along with her husband Dave, Jennifer started Vibrant Technologies, a company offering refurbished IT hardware equipment for resale worldwide. They financed Vibrant Technologies by tapping into their savings and selling their house and a car. The Larsons moved into Dave’s grandfather’s house and launched the business from his basement.

“I learned that a lot of people aren’t willing to sacrifice their quality of living to go for it,” Jennifer says. “We were.” Vibrant Technologies topped $5.1 million in sales in year one, even as the dot-com boom waned.

In 2002, despite growing her Pilates studio’s annual revenue to $500,000, Jennifer closed its doors after her son, Cade, was diagnosed with autism. This event led Jennifer to found her third venture, Holland Center, a pediatric habilitation treatment center for children with autism.

Frustrated that she couldn’t find the care that Cade needed, Jennifer opened a different kind of autism facility. She wanted to offer the safest environment with the best therapy possible for the most sensitive immune system kids, like Cade. Holland Center was built in 2003 with chemical-free resources, providing a non-toxic environment. The paints, floor, adhesives and materials were all selected to be the least toxic possible. No pesticides or herbicides are used at the location and all cleaning products are non-toxic. Holland Center is also gluten, casein and peanut-free. Also unique to Holland Center is its investment in the Board Certified Behavior Analysts on staff as supervisors, a level of care other centers don’t have.

Located in Minnetonka, Holland Center is one of the only facilities to offer comprehensive treatment that includes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)/Verbal Behavior (VB), speech, occupational therapy, music and medical treatments with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. “I wanted to provide what I felt was the best for my son. There wasn’t a facility locally that offered it, and I knew other parents would want the same,” explains Jennifer. “I saw a need for the kids and knew I could help by opening Holland.”

In conjunction with the not-for-profit Holland Center, Jennifer also started a 501c3 nonprofit called C.A.D.E. (Children with Autism Deserve Education), which is named after her son. C.A.D.E. raises money for local children’s therapy and medical treatments, donating the proceeds to various clinics around the Twin Cities.

Less than a year after starting Holland Center, the serial entrepreneur debuted another company, St. Croix Solutions, an Information Technology solutions provider delivering innovative, cost-effective and manageable corporate IT solutions. “I saw a need with clients for a solution provider that could offer services, new hardware and software. I had the right staff, and it was the right timing,” explains Jennifer.

Jennifer recognizes that actively running three companies is a big challenge. “It takes a lot of commitment, time and organization to be effective for three entirely different businesses,” she says. “I know we have a winning work ethic.”

What we learned from Jennifer: “Understand the risks and go for it. A true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.”

Setbacks and Opportunity

“All my organizations have had setbacks at some point. I once told someone that I’m on a trampoline and the harder you push me down the higher I’ll bounce. Setbacks can help you re-focus and challenge you to become even better.”

Know and Understand

“I lead the team by being part of the team. I know and have done every job here at some level. I lead by understanding their job, giving solid feedback and empowering my staff to want to make a difference.”

This Featured Lady was profiled by Megan L. Reese, WORDrobe™ Stylist for Her Write Image in West Grove, PA.

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