From Dining Room to Marketing: Laura’s Journey of Hospitality and Growth at Essex Meadows

Laura grew up in Deep River, CT, and graduated from Southern Connecticut State College with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. After completing her degree, she embarked on one of her favorite adventures: traveling. Once she had fulfilled her travel bucket list, Laura joined Essex Meadows in 2013 as a dining room server. Alongside her role at Essex Meadows, she worked as a caterer at The Marketplace in Guilford, where she helped organize special events, combining her love for travel with her passion for food.

Laura’s experience at Essex Meadows and in catering allowed her to deepen her understanding of the culinary and hospitality industries. Her kind and welcoming nature quickly caught the attention of Essex Meadows, and she transitioned into a hostess role at the dining room podium. As Lead Hostess, her attention to detail, organizational skills, and dedication to helping others made her an excellent fit for the position. She mentored new servers, coordinated dining service, and ensured that every resident and guest felt warmly welcomed.

Laura’s journey didn’t stop there. She became a liaison between the Food Service and Marketing departments, expanding her hospitality expertise beyond the dining room. She took on new responsibilities, such as assisting with marketing guests, welcoming new residents, and helping with phone calls and mailings. Eventually, a full-time opportunity in Marketing arose, and both departments strongly encouraged Laura to step into her new role as Marketing and Move-In Coordinator.

Though the dining room staff and residents miss seeing Laura at the hostess stand, they know she will excel in her Marketing position and continue to be an asset to the Essex Meadows community.

On August 5th, Laura joined Wanda and Karen in the Marketing Department as the Move-In and Marketing Coordinator, and she has already proven to be an invaluable addition. Her eagerness to step in wherever needed and her quick grasp of new information have made a noticeable impact. Just before officially joining the team, Laura was assisting with trial stays in our model apartment. When one of the guests wanted to send a sweet treat to residents who had shown exceptional kindness during their stay, Laura knew exactly what to recommend: brownies for her and sugar-free chocolate ice cream for him. The gesture was a huge success! It’s the little things that make a big difference. Thank you, Laura, for your hospitality and keen attention to detail. We’re thrilled to have you as part of the Marketing team!