A graduate of Cornell University in New York with a bachelor of arts, Walter “Walt” Lauridsen serves as a real estate developer and investor based in Des Moines, Iowa. He has been actively investing in real estate and small businesses in the Des Moines area since 2023. Prior to that, Walter Lauridsen spent 15 years focused on business development for Lauridsen Group, Inc., which oversees six companies that create healthy, nutritious food products through agriscience. During that time, he held a number of roles with the group that include serving as an advisor, project manager, and production scheduler.

Mr. Lauridsen also spent two years in international business development for Lauridsen Group, Inc., overseeing the construction and startup of a production plant in Poland. He also informed the building plans for the facility, which is one of over 60 in operation under the Lauridsen Group, Inc., umbrella. The group’s portfolio of businesses includes Proliant Health & Biologicals, Essentia Protein Solutions, Proliant Dairy Ingredients, the Boyer Valley Company, BHJ, and APC.

In addition to his professional activities, Walt Lauridsen contributes considerable energy to a variety of community programs. He is a board member of and actively supports the Harvest Academy, which is a therapeutic community that offers voluntary rehabilitation and concentrates on preventing incarceration. He also served on the board of Mainframe Studios, which is a nonprofit organization that facilitates the availability of affordable workplaces in order to support equity and provide opportunities in the arts. In addition, he supports a number of local artists and regularly collaborates with internationally renowned artist Jordan Weber.

Walter Lauridsen is a member of the National Advisory Council for the Robert and Billie Ray Center at Drake University, which is the home of Character Counts, a nonprofit organization in Des Moines that promotes civility and helps young people recognize and practice good character. In addition to his philanthropic efforts, Mr. Lauridsen pursues a number of personal hobbies and interests in his free time. He raced in the 2021 Formula 18 Americas sailing championship, ranking fifth overall.

In addition to being a keen sailor, Walter Lauridsen enjoys working with wood and fixing, buying, and selling classic cars. To that end, one of his prized possessions is a Ford Model A Roadster hot rod. He also enjoys working on a variety of art installation projects. Most of all, Mr. Lauridsen values spending quality time with his son.

How can new ideas be brought to fruition?

Creativity. Everyone has ideas, but you have to be creative to make them come to life.

What have you learned in life that you wish you knew when you were younger?

Hurt people often hurt other people. Those who have hurt me have been through a lot of difficulties in life, and I now feel empathy for them.

What do you do to relieve stress when you are overwhelmed?

Connect with friends and create art.

What advice do you have for others?

Enjoy life and help others.

What is one activity that makes you happy?

I would spend every day fixing cars if I could.

What is one thing that has helped you achieve success professionally?

I have never been shy about introducing myself to people or inserting myself into a conversation. After hard work, the number one thing about making ideas come to life is connecting with others who want to help.