WOHM Charleston 96.3FM

WWB Hospitality Honoree, Laurie Alderson Smith, chief of staff for Explore-Known as someone who “sees” others and seeks to lift them up, Laurie lists her most fulfilling contribution to Explore Charleston as her involvement in building its Intern Cultural Enrichment Program, designed to grow minority leaders in tourism. Minority students, many from HBCUs, participate each summer. “The intent is to impact young people who can then influence our industry’s diversity. I find, however, that these outstanding young people impact me,” she says. She was named “Ally for the Future Workforce” at the 2023 Lowcountry Diversity Leadership Awards and co-wrote the post-9/11 article ‘How Charleston Got Her Groove Back,’ published in the Journal of Vacation Marketing. A Leadership Charleston graduate, she serves on the board of the MUSC Children’s Hospital Foundation and holds both an MBA from The Citadel and a bachelor’s degree in business from College of Charleston.