LAURA LAYDEN

LAURA LAYDENhttp://www.gonaples.com/staff/laura-layden/<a href="http://www.facebook.com/llayden1">■ Friend me on Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ndn_llayden/">■ Follow me on Twitter</a> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/laura-layden/12/5ba/b85">■ Look me up on LinkedIn</a> My love for journalism sparked in high school. Recognizing my love for writing and telling stories, my business teacher for a co-op program that allowed students to spend half the day at work, encouraged me to apply for a job at a local newspaper, The South Dade News Leader in Homestead, on Florida’s east coast. I got a job there as a clerk/typist. I had the opportunity to write stories, here and there, and saw reporters there in action. I was hooked. I went on to major in journalism at the University of Florida in Gainesville. “Go Gators.” After graduation, I worked for the Hollywood Sun in Broward County as an education reporter. A few months later, I became an assistant editor at South Florida magazine in Miami, where I interned during college. I was driven back to newspapers when given an opportunity to become a business reporter at Miami Today, covering Miami-Dade County government. Five years later, I needed a change _ professionally and personally. Newly married, my husband, Roy, and I moved to Southwest Florida, where I became a business editor at the Bonita Banner. About a year later, I moved to the downtown Naples office to become a business reporter for the Naples Daily, covering everything from agriculture to the economy. When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family. I have two children, Luke, a fifth grader with a big heart, and Alexis, a kindergartner with a big, bright smile. They keep me busy playing basketball, singing on Rock Band Wii, swimming and twirling. I love movies, dancing, biking, gardening, taking photos and laughing with my husband, whose sense of humor keeps me going. Covering business keeps me busy. There's always something new to learn. en-usA Norris Home Furnishings store will soon open at 5015 U.S. 41 North in North Naples. It will get a http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305420/A Norris Home Furnishings store will soon open at 5015 U.S. 41 North in North Naples. It will get a Sat, 07 May 2011 04:05:23 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305420/Larry Norris and his wife, Renee, will open Norris Home Furnishings in North Naples in August. The fhttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305419/Larry Norris and his wife, Renee, will open Norris Home Furnishings in North Naples in August. The fSat, 07 May 2011 04:05:22 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305419/Norris Home Furnishings will open in Naples this summer. The building at 5015 U.S. 41 North has beenhttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305418/Norris Home Furnishings will open in Naples this summer. The building at 5015 U.S. 41 North has beenSat, 07 May 2011 04:05:21 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305418/Norris Home Furnishings is coming to Naples. Larry Norris and his wife, Renee, own the business, whihttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305417/Norris Home Furnishings is coming to Naples. Larry Norris and his wife, Renee, own the business, whiSat, 07 May 2011 04:05:19 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305417/Larry and Renee Norris are expanding their furniture business, Norris Home Furnishings. They will ophttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305416/Larry and Renee Norris are expanding their furniture business, Norris Home Furnishings. They will opSat, 07 May 2011 04:05:18 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305416/Norris Home Furnishings will open in North Naples this summer at 5015 U.S. 41. The building will gethttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305408/Norris Home Furnishings will open in North Naples this summer at 5015 U.S. 41. The building will getSat, 07 May 2011 04:05:07 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/07/305408/Norris Home Furnishings will open in Naples this summer. The building at 5015 U.S. 41 North has beenhttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/06/305302/Norris Home Furnishings will open in Naples this summer. The building at 5015 U.S. 41 North has beenFri, 06 May 2011 22:40:14 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/06/305302/This building at 5015 U.S. 41 North in North Naples will be home to Norris Home Furnishings. The furhttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/06/305153/This building at 5015 U.S. 41 North in North Naples will be home to Norris Home Furnishings. The furFri, 06 May 2011 14:25:15 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/06/305153/Norris Home Furnishings is coming to Naples. Larry Norris and his wife, Renee, own the business, whihttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/06/305152/Norris Home Furnishings is coming to Naples. Larry Norris and his wife, Renee, own the business, whiFri, 06 May 2011 14:20:23 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/06/305152/This building at 5015 U.S. 41 North in North Naples will be home to Norris Home Furnishings. The furhttp://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/06/305151/This building at 5015 U.S. 41 North in North Naples will be home to Norris Home Furnishings. The furFri, 06 May 2011 14:20:21 -0000http://www.gonaples.com/photos/2011/may/06/305151/