Board Member Spotlight: Laura Russell

Foundation Board Second Vice Chair and native Floridian Laura Russell is no stranger to the beauty and adventure of wild Florida. An avid angler and all-around outdoorswoman, Laura’s love for conservation runs deep.

She frequently fishes the Palm Beach Inlet on Florida’s east coast with her family. A wide variety of species are easily accessible from the popular fishing spot, but her favorite to target is Florida’s billfish. Her time on the water with loved ones got her hooked on angling, but it was her competitive nature that got her involved in fishing tournaments.

“I actually used to get horribly seasick and found that when I was focused on what was going on around me and in the cockpit, I felt better,” said Laura. “I truly fell in love with the sport when we started competing in tournaments together.”

When it comes to Foundation initiatives, Laura’s focus on keeping Florida’s waters healthy comes as no surprise. “I am truly passionate about all the water quality issues facing our state,” said Laura. “The trickle-down effect of how we address these growing issues will have a huge impact on the future.”

Laura Russell graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. degree and a Certificate in Special Event Planning. Upon graduation, she started her career in public service by working for Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater and State Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff.

Today, Laura lives in Jupiter with her family and works with their company, Cheney Brothers, an independent food distribution company. In addition to her role as our Second Vice Chair, Laura is a Board member of the Palm Beach County Food Bank, a Past President of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches, and serves on the National Board of Directors for the FSU Alumni Association.