Laurie and her husband, Rich, lived and worked in Chicagoland, and were attracted to Jo Daviess County because its rolling landscape reminded them of her native New England.  As a result, they bought property here in 1989 and began spending most weekends enjoying the outdoors and participating in conservation activities with the Galena Territory and Natural Area Guardians.  An active member of JDCF since its inception, Laurie has focused on conservation education and outreach.  She helped launch Camp Casper, coordinated eagle watching tours for 10 years, has made numerous educational presentations, and participated in many bird counts and bluebird monitoring at Lost Mound.  In 2020 she joined the board of Casper Creek Natural Cemetery, helping launch a business that reflects her commitment to protecting the environment.