Laraine Lasdon was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa where she attended the University of the Witwatersrand. After working as a Youth Director for an anti-apartheid political party, Laraine moved to the United States. Laraine has been extremely active politically in the past and in the United States, with particular interest in city and county government. She has served as County Commissioner's aide performing legislative duties on various issues as well as serving on local Boards and Commissions and running for City Council herself several years ago. Laraine has lived in Austin, Texas since 1976. She is involved in city, county, and state politics taking on leadership roles and appointments on municipal boards and commissions and civic boards, including: Envision Central Texas, LCRA Leadership Advisory Board, LCRA Austin/Travis County Regional Issues Board, Austin Community College Public Policy and Education Board, and earlier, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, RECA Regional Issues Committee and Rotary Club of Austin and District committees. She served on the American Youthworks Board of Directors with special emphasis on Fund Development and Community Relations and Green Builder, LEED Gold certification issues and innovative Education. She is has been nominated and accepted as a member of the National Board of the National Women's Political Caucus during 2007-2008. In 1985, after working as a political consultant with special emphasis on the politics of the real estate industry, and after honing her real estate skills by providing marketing and leadership strategies to a title company and real estate development firm, she established her own marketing firm. With an extensive network of contacts and an outstanding reputation for her creative leadership skills and reliable work ethic, colleagues from the public and private sector became her clients with projects that include: business development with emphasis on the construction industry, public involvement strategies, public policy issues relating to education and growth issues and their impact on the private sector, transportation goals and objectives and fund development techniques and other projects. Laraine Lasdon is married to Professor Leon Lasdon, a worldwide leader in optimization software and holder of the Bruton Chair for Management Science and Information Systems. Her daughter, Claire, is a graduate of (Plan ll) The University of Texas and works as a business process analyst for large scale projects. |
