Lori began acquiring landscape-related purchasing experience in 1996, working in sales, inventory control and accounting for a large nursery before moving into operations and office management for a landscape maintenance firm. She moved into accounting and purchasing for a machinery company in 2000 before returning to landscape construction as a purchasing agent for a Bay Area firm. In 2004, Lori was hired by East Bay to handle purchasing and coordinate job site delivery for its expanding business in landscape construction, maintenance and environmental services.