Laurel was born in Boston, grew up in Syracuse, New York, and Orinda, CA and spent part of her childhood living in Germany and France. After attending UC Davis, she earned a BA from UCLA, and a master’s degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. She also studied and worked in the United Kingdom, Norway, and Hong Kong.
After a career spanning marketing management, nonprofit fund development, and philanthropy, she retired in 2026 from the Community Foundation for Monterey County, where she served as Vice President of Community Impact and oversaw grantmaking, scholarship programs and nonprofit capacity-building efforts. Her experience also includes directing grantmaking at the Monterey Peninsula Foundation (host of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am), resource development at the United Way and corporate marketing at The Walt Disney Company and Colgate-Palmolive Company.
Her volunteer community leadership includes service on numerous local and national nonprofit boards, including the Junior League of Monterey County (President), and Community Foundations National Standards Board (Director and Secretary). She is also a past President of the Association of Junior Leagues International (2018-20). She has volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Girls Inc., Literacy Campaign for Monterey County, and Catholic Charities.
Laurel and her husband lived in Monterey County for over 30 years before moving to Rossmoor in 2026. They continue to volunteer in the community.