Laura Hope Whitaker began as a volunteer at Extra Special People in 2003. With her passion for enhancing the lives of children with developmental disabilities and her specialized education in this field, Laura was selected as the Executive Director at age 19, following the sudden passing of founder Martha Wylie. She held the title of Executive Director until 2021, when she took on the new role of CEO. As CEO, Laura uses her leadership and management strengths to manage staff, oversee year-round programs and summer camps and raise millions of dollars for the organization. Her favorite part of the job is getting to hug the many children who walk through the ESP doors.
ESP chose
me.
Laura knows how to help others dig deep to find their own talents and share them with the world. By building an organization that seeks to shine a light on all abilities, Laura has empowered thousands of people with disabilities to harness their gifts and use them to inspire others to make a positive difference. In this inspiring message, she offers wisdom on the inspiration of a dandelion, spreading what makes each individual dandy. Watch Laura's Tedx Talk below on The Dandelion Shift.
Recent Speaking Engagements
Ready
to
have your
perspective shifted?
Click the button below to inquire about booking Laura for your next podcast or event! Booking fees are a direct donation to ESP.