Description

Check-in & Networking 11:30AM-12:00PM
Program 12:00-1:00PM

In this session, SMR executive Laura Cole will present the development forecast for Lakewood Ranch, covering both residential and commercial growth, as well as the infrastructure projects, schools, and businesses shaping the future of the nation’s top-performing multi-generational community. The data shared will give way to a conversation about growth and development in our desirable region, focusing on SMR’s development approach with a focus on preserving the character and livability of the community for today’s residents and businesses, as well as for future generations.

Speaker

Laura Cole - Senior Vice President
Lakewood Ranch Communities

Laura oversees residential, lifestyle, and town center portfolios for Lakewood Ranch, the nation's best-selling multi-generational community since 2018. Located in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Lakewood Ranch features 49,000+ residential units and 6 million sq ft of mixed-use space, including offices, hotels, shopping centers, and town centers. Community amenities include The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, Sarasota Polo Club, Premier Sports Campus, and over 150 miles of trails connecting to 12 parks. Laura oversees Lakewood Ranch's builder program, which encompasses over 16,000 residential lots, and manages nearly 300,000 sq ft of retail and office space in Main Street and Waterside Place, the vibrant heart of the community.

Prior to Lakewood Ranch, Laura was vice president of marketing for Willowsford, a 4,000-acre “agri-hood” community in Northern Virginia.  From 2002 to 2007 she served as vice president of corporate development for RCLCO in Washington, DC, and before that, held positions with the Urban Land Institute, Greater Houston Partnership, and IBM/CB Commercial. 

Laura has a B.S. in Urban Development from the University of Arizona and serves as Chair of Mission Advancement for ULI Tampa Bay and is a member of ULIs Community Development Council Gold.  She is Vice Chair of the Association of Florida Community Developers and serves on executive committee of the Bradenton Economic Development Corporation.