Laurel is an educator, innovator, entrepreneur, and connector with more than 35 years of professional business and education experience. As a VtSBDC Business Advisor and Student/Educator Entrepreneur Specialist, she shares her passion and professionalism when assisting people of all ages in reaching entrepreneurial endeavors and educational pathways. Prior to her work with VtSBDC, Laurel taught business, entrepreneurship, finance, and hospitality/tourism secondary education classes, while coordinating and implementing service learning, co-operative education and internship programs for students. She is also a certified hotel administrator (CHA) with experiences in the hospitality/tourism industry in key operational, general management, marketing, and training and franchise development positions. Laurel has a mission to generate an entrepreneurial “pipeline” and has created and leads several statewide programs that engage secondary students and educators in business/entrepreneurial initiatives.
Although she’s traveled and lived in many parts of the United States and world, Laurel is a 5th generation native Vermonter. As she says — “Vermont is really at my heart. I am grateful to be here living and working at what I love to do, right where I belong.”
