While living in Canada, Laurel Boothe was immersed in a different culture and climate before relocating to Lower Alabama, where she has embraced the region with curiosity and appreciation. Even after several years, she continues to discover new and interesting aspects of the surrounding area.
Laurel earned a Bachelor of Science in K–8 Elementary Education from William Carey College in 1993 and went on to teach preschool, elementary, and middle school for 15 years. Her background in education laid the foundation for her strong communication skills and her ability to engage with the public in a clear and respectful manner.
Her early professional experience includes a diverse range of roles, such as restaurant delivery driver, assistant manager, security guard, and deputy sheriff. These positions helped shape her adaptability, resilience, and dedication to service.
From 1989 to 1993 at Keesler Air Force Base, and again from 2019 to the present in Mobile, Laurel has served as a Captain in the USAF Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. She is trained in emergency response and disaster relief, and serves as part of an aircrew and as a small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) pilot, contributing to critical missions that support both local and national emergency operations.
In 2019, Laurel also began serving as the Treasurer of the Code Officials of Lower Alabama (COLA). In this leadership role, she supports the organization through administrative duties, annual Mid-Winter Conferences, and networking with other code enforcement and building safety professionals across the region.
Laurel transitioned into municipal enforcement over a decade ago and has since built a respected career as a Municipal Enforcement Officer II. For the first four years, she served as an Inspector assigned to a specific district in Mobile. For the past six years, she has worked as a citywide Vehicle Abatement Officer, collaborating with four Mobile Police Department officers as part of the Municipal Enforcement Task Force. This dual experience has given her a comprehensive understanding of both neighborhood-level and citywide enforcement challenges. She is a Qualified Credentialed Inspector and holds a certificate in Property Maintenance & Housing Inspection. Laurel currently serves as a Field Training Officer, guiding new trainees through in-house orientation. Within a few months, those new trainees receive instruction and preparation for the International Code Council (ICC) certification exam. She is known for her professionalism, fairness, and proactive approach to public safety and compliance.
She has also been a speaker at several Community Action Group meetings, where she educates the public about the enforcement process and the importance of safety codes in maintaining a secure and healthy environment.
Outside of her professional life, Laurel has been an avid musician in high school and beyond, having performed with the Burlington Teen Tour Band, the Felixtowe Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society in the United Kingdom, Mobile Symphonic Pops Band and the Gulf Coast Symphony. She currently serves in her church orchestra and as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, continuing her lifelong dedication to service, communication, and community enrichment.