Laurey Hood

Laurey Hood joined Cotleur & Hearing as a Land Planner in July 2025, bringing with her a passion for community development, a drive for service, and a talent for creative problem-solving. A two-time graduate of Auburn University, Laurey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law & Justice and a Master’s in Community Planning.

While in graduate school, Laurey’s dedication and leadership were quickly recognized. She was honored with the Outstanding MCP Student Award for Excellence in Community Planning during her first year and selected as a pilot member of the Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) in her second. Through CPAT, Laurey collaborated on planning solutions for underserved communities across the southeastern U.S., with a focus on economic revitalization, urban design, historic preservation, and environmental resilience.

As a Graduate Planner with the Alabama City Year Program, Laurey helped shape short- and long-term strategies for a wide range of planning initiatives throughout Alabama. She also served as a Graduate Research Assistant, where she co-developed an interdisciplinary course for Master of Community Planning and Public Administration students on public, private, and non-profit approaches to disaster resilience at all levels of government.

In 2024, Laurey began serving as the United States Advisor to the Barna-Berna Foundation for Humanity, a Lagos, Nigeria-based non-profit dedicated to expanding educational access, supporting youth talent, and providing free transportation for students. Her leadership and innovative revitalization work with non-profit Main Street Atmore earned her the Distinguished Leadership Award for a Planning Student at the APA Alabama and Mississippi Chapters Joint Annual Conference.

Laurey is an active member of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, where she continues to advocate for sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking community planning.

Beyond her professional achievements, Laurey has a deep appreciation for the arts. She has been playing both piano and guitar since the age of seven, and finds music to be a creative outlet that complements her work in planning and design.