Laura Worth, MSW
BuildingCircles Organization
Founder
Vashon-Maury Island, Washington
(206) 463-9283 |
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BIOGRAPHY
Laura
Worth, MSW co-founded BuildingCircles
Organization
in 2005 to create affordable, nature-integrated, and sustainable human
shelter. In 2006 she co-founded LifeSense
Institute, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to humanist projects that
improve our quality of life. Laura is a seasoned entrepreneur in
developing
health care technologies
companies as well as a Life
Coach, skilled in group facilitation and inspiring motivation.
Laura is also a web
publisher and designer, business
coach and mentor, musician,
actor,
inventor,
and Associate Producer for SeaDrift
Media Productions.
Laura's interest in affordable and
sustainable housing and energy solutions compliments her desire to facilitate
the creation of both a virtual and "real-world" community of "creative
elders." The community she envisions will share affinities
in many areas, including the appreciation of these earth-sheltered habitats.
In 2003 Laura helped build two large-scale,
one-of-a-kind ferrocement installations, designed by her partner, Robert
Bornn. Oshonia,
at the Casa del Mar estate in Caspar, California, is a ferrocement, sea
stack-like "grotto," measuring approximately 18' L x 8' W x 8' H.
It is complemented by natural plant growth. The second installation is
Ocetus,
a ferrocement, scallop shell-like, covered garden bench and wind break.
BACKGROUND
A 30-year veteran of entrepreneurial
business ventures. Co-founder and Vice President of four health care and
medical products companies. 15 years as a Life and Business Coach,
founding Worth Coaching Services
where she works with groups and individuals from many walks of life.
She is trained professionally in psychotherapy and counseling, group facilitation,
and teaching.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
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Managed communication with investors
and Boards.
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Wrote business and financial plans, reports,
and proposals.
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Designed, performed and administered
market research; managed focus groups.
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Managed advertising and public relations.
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Personnel/human resources policy development;
hiring, and payroll.
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Managed budgets, accounting, and legal
functions.
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Developed materials for public health
education and corporate client wellness programs.
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Prepared grant applications.
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Prepared applications for approval of
medical research on human subjects.
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Prepared FDA submissions for permission
to market medical devices.
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Set up and maintained office systems
and processes; office organizing
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Extensive experience with office equipment;
computer skills
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Web site development.
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Negotiated, prepared, and managed contracts
and licenses.
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Supervised employees.
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Vendor relations and purchasing.
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Mentors sole proprietors.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Web
Publisher
2007 - Present
Specializing in web-based, localized
directories for neighborhoods and small communities.
Web
Site Design
1998 - Present
Specializing in easy-to-navigate
sites for artists, small business, solo professionals, and nonprofits.
LifeSense Institute
Vice President
2006 - Present
Co-founded LifeSense
Institute, a nonprofit corporation to sponsor humanist projects dedicated
to improving our quality of life. These projects include the
Vashon
Energy Project initiated in 2006 and educational support for BuildingCircles
Organization initiated in 2005.
BuildingCircles Organization
Founder
2005 - Present
Co-founded BuildingCircles
Organization to build affordable and sustainable nature-integrated
homes for independent living.
SeaDrift Media Productions
Associate Producer
2004-present
Co-founded SeaDrift
Media Productions, an independent media production company. Produced
Ocean's
Edge-Spirit's Journey DVD and music CD.
Worth Coaching Services
Sole Proprietor
Life and Business Coach, Group Facilitator,
Teacher, Author
1995-present
Guides and supports clients in clarifying
personal direction and values, decision-making, and creating life balance
and focus. Assists in goals identification and planning (short-term
and long-term), motivation and procrastination management, time management,
personal and office organizational systems, and other strategies for improved
quality of life. Specializes in coaching clients at life's transition
points.
Offers business coaching, specializing
in small businesses and home-based business.
Offers life and business coaching
in various formats: groups, classes, workshops, one-on-one and two-on-one.
Virtual and in-person coaching are both available to clients.
Founded Worth
Coaching Services to help pioneer the introduction of life and business
coaching to the public in 1995. Responsible for WCS's strategic
planning, marketing; advertising and public relations; sales; content,
methods, curriculum and proprietary materials development; business and
financial planning, legal and accounting functions. Authors
and publishes coaching e-newsletter and syndicated newspaper column, The
Coaching Minute .
EMPLOYMENT
Advanced Medical Technologies,
Inc. .-.
Somnus Corporation
Advanced Input Products, LLC .-.
LifeSense, LLC
Founder and Vice President
1980 - 2004
Co-founded four privately held and
financed companies engaged in research and development of proprietary healthcare-related
technologies, tools for public health education, and corporate employee
wellness programs. Served on their Boards and as Vice President of
Operations, Vice President of Administration, Secretary (officer), and
also filled roles of office manager, executive assistant, and administrative
assistant. Aggregate fiduciary responsibility for corporate budgets
totaling $3.7 million.
TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENTS
Intuit Inc.
1995 - 1999
Included two year assignment as Senior
Human Resources Assistant. Various other temporary assignments filling
the following positions: Executive Assistant to the President and CEO,
Executive Assistant to VP of Human Resources, Administrative Assistant,
Marketing Assistant.
CLINICAL PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND COUNSELOR
(internships)
Family Service Agency of San Mateo
County
Therapist, Supervised MSW Internship
1982-1983
Crisis and long-term psychotherapy
using individual, couple, family, and group modalities.
East Bay Transitional Services
Therapist, Supervised MSW Internship
1981-1982
Residential treatment center for adults
and older adolescents with severe psychiatric disorders.
EDUCATION
Masters in Social Work (MSW) from
San Francisco State University (1983). Training for clinical social
work with special preparation for counseling clients suffering from chronic
medical illness.
B.A. (sociology) from San Francisco
State University (1972).
PATENT
U.S. Patent No. 5,348,008 (issued
September 20, 1994)
“Cardiorespiratory Alert System”
(co-inventor)
PSYCHOSOCIAL RESEARCH
In-depth interviews with patients
suffering from chronic illness (inflammatory bowel disease); sole responsibility
for design and execution of this exploratory ethnomethodology. Thesis
for Master in Social Work (MSW).
AVOCATIONAL SKILLS, INTERESTS,
AND ACTIVITIES
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Principal actor
and business consultant/mentor for Peninsula acting ensemble, Constance
Wise Productions, an acting school and ensemble based in Palo Alto,
California. Assisted with teaching and directing students.
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Co-founder of DIAJ
(Drummers in a Jam), a 10-year commitment to building community
in the San Francisco Bay Area using community drum circles. DIAJ
evolved into a musical performing group specializing in audience participation.
The DIAJ ensemble recorded and performed African-inspired, California-grown
music
in The San Francisco Bay Area.
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Principal musician (alto recorder) of
DIAJ
(Drummers in a Jam), performing and recording group. Recorded Pangaea:
Old World, New Visions and Mouyami
.
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Co-founder of Big Deal Productions,
an independent music production company dedicated to producing DIAJ music.
In 1998 co-produced the DIAJ CD, Pangaea:
Old World, New Visions.
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Co-produced Sweet California Ballet
(an
original performance event with audience participation), performed at Burgess
Theater, Menlo Park, CA 1997 and The
World Is You, a world music and fusion dance community performance
event at Hidden Villa, Los Altos, California in 2001.
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Principal musician, the SoundMoments
duo (performing and recording as a duo with Robert Bornn). Vocalizations,
soprano, and alto recorder (improvisational world fusion music); African-style
drums and percussion (African-inspired improvisational music). Recorded
music sound track for Robert Bornn's film on DVD, Ocean's
Edge-Spirit's Journey .
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Writing: poetry, blogging (From
the Rocking Chair), e-newsletters and columns (Bright Moments
Coaching and The
Coaching Minute), and op ed. pieces.
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