PROFESSIONAL BIO

Having begun her career nearly 30 years ago in the non-profit sector, Laura is an exceptionally well-written, scrupulously detail-oriented public relations professional. She thrives on utilizing the written word, whether via press releases, social media platforms, by-lined articles, newsletters, or websites; creating and executing strategic public relations campaigns; fostering relationships with the media; multi-tasking; and meeting tight deadlines.

Laura’s broad industry experience encompasses such categories as addiction and recovery, emergency management and fire services, education, marketing, health care, banking, food and beverage, home furnishings, and more. Over the years she has worked with global, national, and regional brands, including McDonald’s, Ronald McDonald House Charities, This Naked Mind, SHE RECOVERS® Foundation, the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Garelick Farms, Bertucci’s, Northeast Utilities, The Avon Volunteer Fire Department, The Discovery Orchestra, Healing Meals Community Project, the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, and State of Connecticut agencies such as the Department of Revenue Services and Department of Public Health. Her efforts have earned placements in local, regional, national, and trade media, including Nightline and Good Morning America (ABC News), The TODAY Show and TODAY.com (NBC News), MSNBC, FOX News, The Weather Channel, Newsweek, Ten Percent Happier Podcast, NBCNews.com, TIME, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Newsweek on Air, the Associated Press, Reader’s Digest, ELLE, Shape, and numerous industry publications.

Prior to serving as External Relations Manager at This Naked Mind, Laura owned and operated WardComm Public Relations, a public relations consulting company, for 13 years. Before that, she was employed by Glastonbury, Connecticut-based Cronin and Company, Inc., a full-service  marketing communications agency. Laura began her public relations career at The Fairfield County Medical Association, a Trumbull, Connecticut-based non-profit trade association with over 1,800 physician members, where she oversaw and continually strengthened the Association’s governmental affairs program and public relations efforts, serving a dual role as Association spokesperson and as liaison between the Association and the Connecticut General Assembly.  

Laura earned her bachelor of arts degree in public policy from Hamilton College. She is a founding member of the New England Chapter of the SHE RECOVERS® Foundation, and a past president of the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Laura has also been a guest lecturer in public relations writing at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.