Laura Pennino has more than 40 years of experience as a writer and public relations specialist. She leverages her “Big Agency experience” and personalized approaches to support clients and media all over the world. She is recognized as a “source for sources” for media and as a speaker on effective communications and public relations techniques. Before starting Pennino and Partners in 1998, Laura served in senior leadership roles with Edelman and Fleishman-Hillard International Communications. Edelman is now the Number One PR firm in the world, and Fleishman-Hillard is in the Top 10.
Laura earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree from the Louisiana State University Manship School of Mass Communication and received the inaugural T.C. Shields Manship School Alumni Service Award in 2010. She also is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. Laura is served as a member and board member of the Bay Area Economic Partnership as well as The Houston Club for several years.
A native of New Orleans and resident of Texas since 1983, Laura relocated to Galveston in 2020 after purchasing a 1903 home in Midtown. She is a member and volunteer with the Galveston Historical Foundation, supporting Dickens on The Strand, the Historical Home Tours, and the Plein Air Art Festival. Laura is also a member and volunteer with Galveston-based Tutu Live Krewe.
Laura and her family have been rescuing and rehoming racehorses, dogs, cats, and goats for decades. In the future, she plans to form the non-profit Pennino Rescue Ranch. Pennino Rescue Ranch will be focused on rescuing and rehoming animals while collaborating with other animal welfare groups such as Houston PetSet, Galveston Island Humane Society, Animal Alliance of Galveston County, Austin Sheltie Rescue, Houston Sheltie Sanctuary and Louisiana Sheltie Rescue.
Laura is a mom to Shelties Casey and Romeo and to Nala, a Pit mix who was rescued from the home of her dead owner in 2021. She also is mom to formerly stray and abandoned cats Alexander, Pilot, Ashton, and Toffee. Laura has fostered and placed more than 25 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens since August of 2020. She volunteers with the Galveston Island Humane Society as a foster parent for unwanted cats and kittens. Laura also has hosted communications workshops for Houston PetSet grant recipients.
