Born in Kentucky, Laura Padgett is a graduate of Duke University and holds a degree in History with an emphasis on non-western civilizations. She also took Masters level courses in Linguistics at Ohio State University.
Her business career positions have included teaching, managing an international dorm at OSU from which she began a career in newspaper ad design, sales and management, working for the Star News, of the NY Times Regional Newspaper Group, and was classified advertising manager of Knight-Ridder Newspapers in Myrtle Beach. She was branch office manager at MetLife starting in 1988. Since 1996, Ms. Padgett has been an independent financial advisor, insurance agent and stock broker, specializing in qualified retirement plans. Ms Padgett is currently retired from her investment advising business.
She has been a member of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Board and Executive Committee, a member of Wilmington Downtown, Inc. Board and served as Treasurer. She is a member of the Wilmington Rotary Club.
Her interests as a public official have been in transportation and congestion solutions, economic development and environmental and historic preservation.