Laura Hope Whitaker utilizes her faith and leadership and management skills to manage her staff, oversee multiple year-round programs and raise funds to execute the organization's initiatives.
WATKINSVILLE, GA, November 14, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Laura Hope Whitaker has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mrs. Whitaker grew up in Atlanta, where she witnessed her parents' engagement with the local community. Serving on various boards, her parents donated money to the community in an effort to make a difference in others' lives. Inspired by her parents' influence, Mrs. Whitaker sought to make an impact on others for the greater good, and focused her efforts on helping those with disabilities. At a young age, she assumed the role of counselor of Extra Special People, Inc., and subsequently became a team leader by 2003. Her success with the organization is attributed to her passion for enhancing the lives of children with developmental disabilities, and she draws upon a bachelor's degree in collaborative special education and a master's degree in adapted curriculum classic autism from the University of Georgia.
Selected as executive director of Extra Special People in 2005 at the age of 19, Mrs. Whitaker utilizes her faith and leadership and management skills to manage her staff, oversee multiple year-round programs and raise funds to execute the organization's initiatives. Her work with Extra Special People was featured in the UGA Graduate Magazine 2012 edition, and she has spent her life's work dedicated to the mission and goals of the organization. She began a fundraiser embracing the organization's mission, raising more than $150,000 annually, raised $3 million for a new facility, and led the organization in purchasing the land for the first fully-accessible camp in Georgia, where she also facilitated a partnership between UGA and George Tech for a fully-accessible, sustainable and unique concept plan.
Furthering her education, Mrs. Whitaker holds a grant writing certification and a nonprofit management consulting certification, and she has completed a Leadership Athens Graduation Program. She is also trained in mindset mastery for emotional intelligence and leadership. Civically involved as well, she maintains affiliation with Leadership Georgia, LEAD Athens on their steering committee, the Junior League of Athens as a past marketing director, and the Classic City Church on their Women's Ministry Team.
As part of her leadership of Extra Special People, Mrs. Whitaker facilitates the growth and direction of Java Joy and Camp Hooray. She attributes her success to her faith in God, as well as her husband's everlasting support. As a testament to her success, she was awarded the 40 Under 40 by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the UGA Alumni Association, the Athens Banner Herald and Georgia Trend. In addition, she earned the Super Citizen Award by the Athens Banner Herald, the Community Four-Way Test Award by the Rotary Club of Oconee County, and Volunteer of the Year Award by the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce. She also received the Bulldog 100 Award in 2017. TedxUGA asked her to speak on her perspective of abilities in 2019. She also shares insights and anecdotes on her blog, Hope Sweet Home.
Driven by her motto, "Sometimes you choose your job, other times it chooses you," Mrs. Whitaker intends to continue serving as executive director of Extra Special People in the near future, as well as leading Java Joy and Camp Hooray from home. She would also love to begin writing a book in five years' time. Her most important roles include being a wife to her husband, Joseph, and mother to her three children: Owen Patrick, Finley Gray and Tate Alan.
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #