Her work in the food world dovetails well with her high-profile career in the lifestyle space. That path started when she arrived in Los Angeles and was working as a maitre d’, while balancing two side hustles. A friend, who was a real estate agent, was having a difficult time tracking down contractors for jobs. Laurie volunteered to help, eventually becoming an owner’s rep who aided in finding contractors, negotiating contracts, picking out materials and overseeing projects. Whether clients were looking to patch holes in walls, interested in getting solar panels installed or needing new throw pillows for their couches, Laurie had the right people in her stuffed-full Rolodex. “For homeowners, it might be hard to get someone to pick up the phone,” Laurie says, “but for me it wasn’t hard, because I’d have 10 other jobs waiting for a contractor if it was done right.”
Despite coming from four generations of builders and having a mother who reveled in DIY home projects, she never dreamed she would work in this realm. “We don’t always picture ourselves following in our parents’ footsteps,” she says, “so as a college student, I wanted nothing to do with construction. I didn’t think it was creative. And I didn’t want a traditional job.”
She soon figured out her preconceptions were wrong. Her new career path took her in even more unexpected directions. A pitch meeting with HGTV led to an all-encompassing gig working as a lead digital talent, becoming the host and creative force behind the hit digital media property “House Counselor,” while also serving as a host for DIYNetwork and HGTVGardens.
She first dipped her spoon into the food world by co-hosting the Cooking Channel’s hit web series “Good to Know” with Dan Pashman, award-winning creator of “The Sporkful” podcast. The duo shared how-to’s, DIY projects and kitchen hacks aimed at helping viewers find inspiration and simplify their cooking regimens. So, for several beyond-busy years, Laurie crisscrossed the country, creating a wealth of lifestyle content for HGTV’s online properties.
As she reached new levels of success and broadened her expertise, Laurie formed her own production company to create engaging original content for a variety of high-profile brands, companies and media properties. Two years ago, she began collaborating with Hormel Foods on other projects while mulling over the concept that would become “Heart to Table.” “We wanted to do something personal and heartfelt,” she says. “There’s so much emotion around food. How you grew up with it and nostalgia for it; what you like to eat; what about it makes you feel good. Food affects our lives and emotions on so many levels, and we want to dive in and explore all of it.”
