http://www.gonaples.com/staff/laura-layden/<p><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/llayden1">■ Friend me on Facebook</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://twitter.com/ndn_llayden/">■ Follow me on Twitter</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/laura-layden/12/5ba/b85">■ Look me up on LinkedIn</a></strong></p> <p>My love for journalism sparked in high school.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>I went on to major in journalism at the University of Florida in Gainesville. “Go Gators.” </p> <p>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. </p> <p>I was driven back to newspapers when given an opportunity to become a business reporter at Miami Today, covering Miami-Dade County government.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>I love movies, dancing, biking, gardening, taking photos and laughing with my husband, whose sense of humor keeps me going. </p> Covering business keeps me busy. There's always something new to learn. en-ushttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/21/hma-executive-pay-union-SEIU-shareholders-meet/Union plans to attend HMA shareholders meeting to protest executive pay system Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/21/hma-executive-pay-union-SEIU-shareholders-meet/http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/15/fewer-owe-collier-county-property-taxes-in-2011/Fewer owe Collier County property taxes in 2011 compared to 2010 Tue, 15 May 2012 09:30:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/15/fewer-owe-collier-county-property-taxes-in-2011/http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/11/profits-up-174-percent-at-alico-inc/Profits up 174 percent at Alico Inc. Fri, 11 May 2012 23:17:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/11/profits-up-174-percent-at-alico-inc/http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/10/world-view-collier-tourism-director-expects-more/World view: Collier tourism director expects more international visitors this summer Thu, 10 May 2012 09:30:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/10/world-view-collier-tourism-director-expects-more/http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/07/collier-tourism-bucket-list-ads-will-target-east/Collier tourism 'bucket list' ads will target Florida's east coast Mon, 07 May 2012 21:00:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/07/collier-tourism-bucket-list-ads-will-target-east/http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/05/jack-antaramian-barack-obama-fine-DNC-FEC-election/Antaramian to pay elections fine for '08 support of Obama, Democratic committee Sat, 05 May 2012 22:00:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/05/jack-antaramian-barack-obama-fine-DNC-FEC-election/http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/04/new-robb-stucky-showroom-downtown-naples-breaks-gr/New Robb &amp; Stucky showroom in downtown Naples breaks groundFri, 04 May 2012 16:38:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/04/new-robb-stucky-showroom-downtown-naples-breaks-gr/http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/02/naples-mansions-real-estate-40-million-dollars/Hot homes: Two Naples mansions sell for more than $40 million eachWed, 02 May 2012 18:00:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/may/02/naples-mansions-real-estate-40-million-dollars/http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/apr/30/march-tourism-up-5-percent-in-collier-county/Hot spot: March tourism up 5 percent in Collier County Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:00:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/apr/30/march-tourism-up-5-percent-in-collier-county/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/29/lighthouse-project-futuristic-look-business-fla/Lighthouse Project: Our Future, Our Choices: A futuristic look at doing business in Southwest Florida Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:04:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/29/lighthouse-project-futuristic-look-business-fla/