Laura Taylor Singer
Laura is highly skilled at providing Lead Facilitation Services and Organizational Development Consulting. She offers extensive experience working with groups to organize productive and efficient meetings to address often complex and contentious issues collectively.
Her development of facilitation and convening skills began early in her professional career. After completing a bachelor's degree in biology and psychology from Trinity College, she was the recipient of the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study marine pollution abroad. She returned to the U.S. to pursue a master's degree in environmental management at Duke University where she focused on marine affairs and policy issues. At the heart of her work was trying to understand cooperative mechanisms to unravel the complex decisions of policy makers and stakeholders involved in natural resource industries. In 1995, Laura continued to develop her facilitation, mediation, and negotiation skills through the University of Southern Maine and earned a Certificate in Conflict Management.
Laura brings a broad view of the organizational dynamics and cultural perspectives among stakeholders grappling with difficult decisions. Her professional experience includes working with the Coastal Program at the Maine State Planning Office and serving as Special Assistant to the Commissioner for the Maine Department of Marine Resources. She has designed and facilitated hundreds of meetings to resolve problems and gain consensus among government agencies, community stakeholders, and non-governmental organizations. From 2001 through 2009, Laura worked at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI); first as Director of Cooperative Research and then as Chief Convening Officer. She played an integral role in strategic planning and organizational development at GMRI as a member of the leadership team. Under her tenure, she nurtured and grew the Community Program from a staff of one to a staff of eight with a $1 million budget for the department.
In addition to her facilitation work at Good Group Decisions, Laura maintains an independent consulting practice with a focus on marine policy, analysis, research, and project management. She also provides training in negotiation skills.
A resident of North Yarmouth, Laura lives with her husband and two children and enjoys gardening, sailing, and running.
Send an email to Laura by clicking here.
"Thank you, for an excellent retreat. I thought it well paced and structured ... You kept us all on task and to be honest I think it probably was the smoothest retreat I have attended in my many many years in the arts and charitable sector...” Andrew Harris, Executive Director, L/A Arts
" …you’ve gracefully facilitated difficult discussions, fostered new collaborations, and nudged the ball toward a better future for this community. We have all benefited from your vision, optimism and intense dedication to your work.” Staff Recognition Ceremony, Gulf of Maine Research Institute