Laura has served the Seattle nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years, including as a full-time employee, a consultant, and a board member. Since 2019, Laura has primarily served in interim leadership roles – for organizations working on diverse issues, including homelessness, food security and access, child welfare, senior independence, commercial sexual exploitation, and more. Laura has deep experience in leading organizations through transition and in recovering from financial difficulties. In addition, Laura is a gifted manager of people and actively encourages her staff’s growth and development. She also enjoys working with Board members and other volunteers, who are vital to the success of a nonprofit organization.

Prior to her work with Valtas, Laura proudly served as the Executive Director of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility for five years, leading the organization through substantial reinvigoration. She helped rebuild the organization’s membership base, refocus programs, establish dozens of partnerships, and attract significant new financial support – more than doubling revenue over a 5-year period. As a result, the organization started its fifth decade on strong footing to meet its mission of protecting health from the gravest threats, including nuclear weapons, climate change, and economic inequity. In her role as Executive Director, Laura was responsible for all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, staff management, and strategic planning.

Laura also served as a Program Director for two national education-focused nonprofit organizations. At Alexander Hamilton Scholars, Laura was responsible for all seven of the organization’s programs, directly supporting hundreds of high-achieving, low-income youths in realizing their full potential. At Facing the Future, Laura authored over 20 published curriculum resources, including one of the nation’s first climate change resources for classroom teachers, as well as the nation’s first comprehensive sustainability textbook for high school students. She supported thousands of teachers across the US and abroad in implementing that curriculum. Laura’s career began as a science teacher, where she shared her passion for environmental sustainability with her students.

Laura holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in ecology. She completed the Interim Executives Academy, a program of Third Sector Company.