http://www.marconews.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 sixth grader with a big heart, and Alexis, a first grader 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.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/20/visitors-brighten-colliers-april-tourism-numbers/Visitors brighten Collier's April tourism numbers Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/20/visitors-brighten-colliers-april-tourism-numbers/http://www.marconews.com/news/2013/may/19/fiddlers-creek-development-suit-district-court-/Fiddler's Creek development suit moved from federal back to Collier courtSun, 19 May 2013 21:00:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2013/may/19/fiddlers-creek-development-suit-district-court-/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/19/price-decline-gold-sell-silver-market-collier-fla/As prices decline, gold rush may be ending for Collier, Lee businessesSun, 19 May 2013 12:00:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/19/price-decline-gold-sell-silver-market-collier-fla/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/16/estero-community-leaders-study-commercial-land/Estero community leaders embark on study of commercial land's futureThu, 16 May 2013 23:51:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/16/estero-community-leaders-study-commercial-land/http://www.marconews.com/news/2013/may/14/fgcu-foundation-declines-developers-offer-expand/FGCU foundation declines developer's offer of 600-acre land donationTue, 14 May 2013 22:52:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2013/may/14/fgcu-foundation-declines-developers-offer-expand/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/12/anatomy-deal-how-lee-landed-hertz-corporate-hq-fla/Anatomy of a deal: How Lee came up No. 1 in car giant Hertz's searchSun, 12 May 2013 12:00:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/12/anatomy-deal-how-lee-landed-hertz-corporate-hq-fla/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/10/hertz-looks-at-temporary-office-sites-along-road/Hertz looks at temporary office sites along Immokalee Road, U.S. 41 Fri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/10/hertz-looks-at-temporary-office-sites-along-road/http://www.marconews.com/news/2013/may/09/hertz-move-talk-of-economic-symposium-in-estero/Hertz move talk of economic symposium in EsteroThu, 09 May 2013 21:00:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2013/may/09/hertz-move-talk-of-economic-symposium-in-estero/http://www.marconews.com/news/2013/may/09/estero-businesses-residents-excited-for-hertz/Estero businesses, residents excited for Hertz relocationThu, 09 May 2013 08:54:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2013/may/09/estero-businesses-residents-excited-for-hertz/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/08/collier-county-looking-recruit-business-company/Collier looking to up its ante in recruiting companiesWed, 08 May 2013 22:11:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/may/08/collier-county-looking-recruit-business-company/