Lee Ellen (Walther) Kordus grew up in Garnavillo, Iowa. She enrolled at Iowa State University in the fall of 1964 as a freshman in textiles and clothing with a desire to work in the fashion industry. Due to the challenging science and math courses required in the textiles and clothing major, she decided to switch majors to advertising design. She graduated with a B.S. (1968) in advertising design from Iowa State University.



Her first job out of college was Art Director (1968) with L.S. Ayres in Indianapolis. There Kordus did advertising and illustrations for designer clothing, sportswear, junior clothing, and cosmetics. She moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to become an Advertising Assistant and Advertising and Promotion Manager (1969-1971) with Wisconsin Bell. She then worked briefly in Miami, Florida, before moving to New York City for a job with N.W. Ayer, Inc., as an Account Manager (1973-1977). She returned to Milwaukee where she was hired as Advertising Manager and Brand Manager for Development (1977-1981) for Schlitz Brewing Company. She also worked briefly as Director of Marketing (1982) for Living Well Lady Fitness Centers, Inc.



Kordus became President (1983-1990) of The Concept Group Consultants in which she provided marketing and advertising consulting with a specialty in new business and product development. During this time she was also Vice President and Executive Recruiter (1983-1990) for Marketsearch, Inc., out of Milwaukee. It was then that she started her own consulting firm, Kordus Consulting Group, in which she was President and Executive Recruiter (1991-2006). The firm specialized in recruiting marketing management, product management, advertising, and advertising agency personnel. Kordus retired in 2006 and took up glass painting as a hobby.



In honor of her career achievements Kordus received the Iowa State University Outstanding Young Alumnus Award (1980). She also received a silver medal for Best Advertising Campaign at the International Television and Film Festival and several awards from the Milwaukee Advertising Club. She was very active in the American Advertising Federation at the national, district, and local levels and has been invited to speak at events across the country.