MY WHY
Laura launched Easton Consulting in 2009 when she consulted for a private therapist to help further develop his clinical practice. She lit up and soon began consulting fulltime.
In 2010, a well-known and beloved clinician in Houston, who had been giving his all to clients and contributing greatly to the treatment and addiction therapy community, died suddenly at 54. His death deeply impacted Laura, and she became dedicated to helping clinicians take care of themselves while growing their businesses and diversifying their revenue streams.
She was working closely at the time with Dr. Patrick Carnes in his Professional Improvement Program and remains grateful to him along with her group of amazing clinicians (Gino Vaccaro, Ben Licata and Nina Laltrello) for their encouragement and support.
From there, Laura harnessed her passion, energy, experience and expertise. Through her own healing work, she recovered from work addiction and other self-sabotaging behaviors - and ultimately made the vital shift to life-work balance. This inspired and informed her powerful framework and program now available for professionals and organizations. Combining all of this with her wide range of relevant experience, Laura is a sought-after consultant and coach.
Bringing all of her experience, gifts, talents, achievements and passions together, Laura is a sought-after consultant and certified coach who helps organizations increase net revenue and helps leaders and staff restore balance and health without sacrificing their success or that of their organization.
Easton Consulting has served many nonprofits, treatment centers, and group and private practitioners. During a 10-year period, Laura joined the staff of two of her consulting clients to help them reach specific goals.
She served as The Menninger Clinic's Senior VP and Chief Development Officer taking their fundraising totals to new levels and repairing donor relationships to great effect. She returned to fulltime consulting and within a few years was hired as VP of Development with Houston Botanic Garden where she raised $18.5 million in capital to finish the $35 million campaign to build the Garden (by the deadline and $3.5 million over the campaign goal). She helped successfully open the Garden during the pandemic and also launched HBG's membership program with more than 2000 members within the first four months.
HONORED & PASSIONATE
Laura's career started with a successful national political campaign followed by professional positions with American (Whitney) Bank, Fulbright & Jaworksi, Hobbs/Herder Advertising and PriceWaterhouse - each of which she was very honored to serve.
Laura truly found her passion and felt most impactful and successful working for two renowned treatment centers. For Sierra Tucson, Laura went from counseling intern to advertising writer to special projects for the president, who then promoted her to Administrator of Patient Relations.
For The Meadows, Laura developed business as Community Relations Representative and loved working with many clinicians, alumni and families. She also represented The Meadows at national conferences with the highly esteemed Claudia Black, the late John Bradshaw, Patrick Carnes and Pia Mellody.
Laura remains honored and incredibly passionate about the field of addiction and mental health treatment and recovery.
GRATEFUL FOR OPPORTUNITY
In 1998, she joined The Council on Recovery for 12 years on staff. As chief planning and development officer, Laura helped develop, launch and produce The Waggoners Foundation Speaker Series, an award-winning series that continues to this day to raise essential funds, educates the community about the disease of addiction and the power of treatment and recovery and reduces shame and stigma. In the first 11 years, the series raised over $9 million and attracted more than 21,000 attendees.
Other projects there included rolling out a new brand, developing and launching the agency website, converting the donor database to The Raiser’s Edge, and raising $11 million in capital during the campaign to transform the facility into a campus-like setting and double the size of The Council.
Her work on the expansion included working with the clinical team on space planning, with the board and building committee on vendor selections, with the architect firm from schematic development through construction documents, with the construction team from groundbreaking and dirt moving through opening doors, with project management on finishes, fixtures, equipment and furnishings, with the board for the grand opening, and with the agency for two full years of operations after opening doors on the new campus.
During the campaign and thereafter, Laura had the honor and privilege of working with Houston’s private foundations and many other very generous donors.
Laura accepted every opportunity with The Council and is still very grateful for her experience and its ripple effect and impact.
“There are no words that can fully explain or describe Laura’s impact on The Council and the people we serve. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for all she has done for me and for everyone here.
She has created a legacy and will be missed, remembered and with each day others can see that she was indeed here.”
Mel Taylor, MSW, Former President & Chief Executive Officer
The Council on Recovery
ABOUT LAURA
Laura Easton, LMSW is a successful consultant, certified coach and professional with a measurable track record and experience with diverse projects. She is passionate and dedicated to bringing health to organizations + their people.
She received her Master of Social Work, with an emphasis in organization development and use-of-self in the workplace, from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She was honored by her peers with the Barbara Jordan Unity Award for demonstrating discipline, determination, a high standard of excellence, and the ability to unite colleagues in efforts for change
Laura received the Spirit Award from Sierra Tucson for lifetime achievement recognition in the addiction treatment and recovery field.
She has served on boards and committees for various nonprofits throughout her career and chaired, co-chaired and served on host committees for a number of fundraising events as well.
She graduated from SMU with her BFA-Advertising and attended St. John’s School in Houston. Laura currently serves on the Advisory Board of The Council on Recovery and the Host Committee for Menninger's Signature Luncheon. She is a member of St. John the Divine Church, the Garden Club of Houston, Kappa Alpha Theta and The Briar Club. She also handles her family's business affairs.
While Laura works with clients nationally, she lives in Houston with Jack-the-Cat and enjoys her recovery, self-care, love and family, friends and an amazing life.
