Laura Catalano

---

As a former journalist and practicing communications counselor for nearly 30 years, Laura Catalano has a broad range of experience helping organizations drive innovations in technology, policy, markets and behavior. She has served as a senior counselor to executives of non-profits, Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and government agencies. 

Laura specializes in building integrated communication strategies and campaigns designed to enhance reputation, raise awareness, change public opinion, and impact public policy. She has deep experience counseling senior leaders on how to prepare for the worst and successfully manage their reputations during a crisis. 

Most recently, Laura spent 10 years at Environmental Defense Fund leading global communications on a wide variety of climate-related issues and spearheading crisis  and risk communications. She developed and executed campaigns to drive brand awareness and advance policy objectives, including preparing to launch a methane-detecting satellite, creating favorable policies for electric vehicles and reauthorizing our country’s major chemical safety law. 

At EDF, Laura successfully led teams and leveraged high-profile platforms such as the World Economic Forum, NY Climate Week and the United Nations climate change conference to showcase EDF executives and thought leadership globally. She served on EDF’s Leadership Council, chaired the Risk Assessment Committee and led responses to crises to address reputational threats. Managing, mentoring and training a 52-person team, Laura built a coordinated, high-functioning division with measurable results. 

Today, Laura runs Catalano Communication Strategies and specializes in supporting clients with advocacy communications, reputation management, brand positioning and messaging, media strategy, and crisis and litigation management. She has worked with legal teams and led crisis response on issues from water contamination to nuclear waste and embezzlement, helping manage strategy and public perception. Laura develops clear messages to protect organizations' reputations during a crisis and ensures prompt, effective media positioning. She advises clients on how to prepare for potential crises, developing risk assessments and crisis communications plans and leading crisis simulation drills.
 

Previously, Laura served in several senior communications roles in the corporate sector, including as Vice President, Corporate Communications, at Rolls-Royce North America, and as SVP and Partner at the global public relations agency Fleishman-Hillard. She began her career in journalism covering energy and environmental issues in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals for several business trade publications.

Laura serves on the board of Coachmen Defenders, a U.K.-based company that restores iconic Land Rovers, and she is active in serving her community through various organizations in Alexandria, VA, where she lives with her trusty Golden Retriever Jett. Laura holds a B.S. in Finance from Virginia Tech.

Click here to view Laura's LinkedIn Page.