PEOPLE OF INTEREST
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Club and other organizations. I’m not a natural sales personality
so it helped to get to know a few people from those
committees, and then branch out. Plus I always want to
give back to the community where I work and live.”
The purple building, business cards and Web site came
into play as Larsen sought ways to differentiate her business.
“Purple is such an expression of me,” she says. “I’ve
always loved it, even when it was an unusual and outrageous
color for people to use. I guess it’s because my stepmother
decorated my bedroom in beige and browns when
I was growing up.”
Larsen is proud of the fact that her purple building single
handedly caused architectural standards to be defined
on Port St. Lucie Boulevard. “And, it’s easy to find my
office among all the brown and beige buildings.”
Growth came quickly to Larsen and Personnel Plus,
which now has offices in Vero Beach and Palm Bay. The
woman who can’t sit still is all about making sure clients
are moving in the right direction.
It was while she was temping as a Kelly Girl in 1979 that
Larsen met her husband, Robert, on assignment at his
office. They’ve been married for 30 and spend much of their
recreational time traveling. “When we were younger we
used to hike in the mountains, now we are more likely to
travel by car — or motorcycle,” says Larsen, who turns
heads when she pulls up on her Honda CB599 , which she
bought on E-Bay.
On the cycle, or off, Larsen is a force to be reckoned with
in Port St. Lucie. But whether traveling behind her or
beside her, it’s good to remember to speed up or get out of
the way.
Name: Jean M. Larsen
Age: 63
Occupation: Owner and president
of Personnel Plus, Inc.
Birthplace: Born in Philadelphia.
Family moved frequently, and
spent much of her formative years
in Italy.
Education: Master’s degree in
social work from the University of
Maryland
Family: Married to Robert Larsen
for nearly 30 years; stepmother to
Lance and Kurt Larsen
What people don’t know about
me: “I’m shy in crowds.”
What inspires me: “The outdoors,
particularly mountains. There is
nothing like being surrounded by
the power of nature: the wind; the
smell of pine scented forests; cascading
water falls; waves crashing
on rocks; magnificent birds and
wild animals.”
Proudest Achievement: Creating
and running a successful company
for the past 21 years.
45
Port St. Lucie