Laureen Lerch

Background

About Laureen Lerch

Laureen is the HR Manager for NMDOT D3 in Albuquerque and is an independent contractor for various local, domestic & international tour companies. Laureen moved to NM with AmeriCorps VISTA Entrepreneur Corps - Adventure Gallup & Beyond Initiative to work with the Navajo Department of Tourism to increase eco, cultural & adventure tourism in Northwest NM. She implemented a community based tourism model in Churchrock, Chapter and assisted with the creation of a new 501c3 nonprofit the Churchrock Tourism Action Council. Providing industry & entrepreneurial tech assistance to start ups, she became the Tourism Development Coordinator for a business incubator, Business Ownership Opportunities in Support of Tourism (BOOST). As funding for these projects came to completion, Ms. Lerch moved to Ketchikan, Alaska to work as a Naturalist in the Tongas National Forest with Allen Marine Tours. She joined the Collette Team in 2005 & feels blessed to travel the world as a Tour Manager leading itineraries in the US, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France & Italy. Ms. Lerch has dual citizenship in the US & Ireland and is originally from the Midwest. She graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelors of Science in Tourism Geography and a minor in Anthropology & American Indian Studies. She is passionate about travel and cultural education and enjoys introducing travelers to the world! Laureen is the one-stop-shop for all HR needs including recruitment; onboarding; orientation; benefits administration; continuing education; career development; employee relations; performance reviews; retirement; terminations; corporate wellness; corporate social giving; corporate wellness; event planning. She oversees three reports to and 210 FTEs. She maintains social media & content creation for multiple websites. Prior to working in HR, Laureen worked with local nonprofits to write the narrative for ending poverty in NM in her role as Communications Director at Prosperity Works. Ms Lerch became involved with high impact asset development strategies & policy with the launch of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). She continues to advocate for systematic change at the state level and national level to influence and correct policy to help move families out of poverty and create infrastructure for better opportunities for future generations. When not working, guiding or volunteering; she enjoys turning off her iPhone to breathe and reconnect with nature. She can be reached at LaureenLerch@gmail.com.