Advisory Board Member
Laura first ventured to Camp Kanata in 1997 and set up her top bunk in the youngest Daisy cabin, Cabin 7. After her inaugural camp dance, there was no turning back. She went on to spend 15 summers at camp making memories as a camper, C.I.L.T., C.I.T., counselor, Hilton Unit Leader and Trainee Director.
Today, she has traded one serene gravel road for another as she manages the wine brand J Vineyards & Winery in Healdsburg, California in the heart of the Russian River Valley. As a dedicated team leader with over a decade of experience driving brand strategy and product development across wholesale, direct-to-consumer & private brands, she has a passion for sustainable and socially conscious business models as well as delivering inspirational hospitality for the evolving, value-based luxury consumer. Prior to entering the wine industry, Laura gained the foundation of her professional experience in apparel product development and brand management roles at Macy’s (NYC) and J. Jill (Boston). She earned her MBA with honors from Vanderbilt University and holds her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia. To this day, she attributes her career accomplishments to the empathy, creativity, compassion and grit that was encouraged to flourish in all of her time spent in the woods off Camp Kanata Road.
Laura currently lives in the greater Bay Area of California where there is never a dull moment with her husband Patrick, sons Callen (2.5) & Brooks (1), and golden retriever Baker. She looks forward to the day she will introduce her kids to the wonders of dining hall cheering, camp-wide capture the flag and lasting Kanata friendships. As a new member of Camp Kanata’s advisory board, Laura is dedicated to supporting the future vision of camp so that as many kids and families as possible can be touched by Kanata’s magic and have a safe, uplifting environment to grow into their fullest selves.
