Laurel Gifford

Laurel Gifford has extensive experience in media relations and public relations. Laurel started their career as a News Anchor at KQTV in 1993. Laurel then worked as an Account Executive at Barkley Evergreen & Partners PR, where they handled strategic planning, client relations, media relations, and budgeting. In 1998, Laurel founded Laurel Public Relations, providing media relations services for small to medium-sized clients. Laurel later served as the Director of Media Relations at DWG International and founded NorthStar Media Management, where they handled strategic planning, media training, and public relations for clients across the United States. Since 2012, Laurel has been working at Saint Luke's Health System, initially as the Director of Media Relations, and subsequently as the Senior Director of Media Relations. In these roles, they were responsible for managing media relations, social media, key messaging, crisis communications, and local and national media relations for the health system, with a particular focus on the Mid America Heart Institute, Cancer Institute, and Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute.

Laurel Gifford earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations from Northwest Missouri State University, completing their studies from 1989 to 1993.