A powerful story about building community and professional success by simply showing up. Discover how one woman transformed her life in a new town through genuine connections, volunteering, and the courage to introduce herself.
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I challenged the belief that you must be deeply rooted to make a difference. By showing up and serving others, I created a sense of belonging far greater than I imagined.
Laura Avery · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Laura
Laura Avery is a hospitality and event professional dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences and bringing people together. As Venue Manager for Ironwood Events at Von Erich Ranch, a rustic elegant 5,000-square-foot converted barn wedding and event venue in Boerne, Texas, Laura oversees every detail of the guest experience—from marketing and venue tours to vendor partnerships, contracts, and day-of event management. She also manages private events at a local wine room, using her passion for hospitality to help clients celebrate life’s most meaningful moments.
Laura’s path to the events industry reflects her ability to embrace change and build new opportunities. After raising her children and leading a successful Pampered Chef business for more than 20 years, she transitioned into hospitality after relocating to Texas in 2022. Joining Ironwood Events during its early rebuilding phase, Laura helped establish the venue’s foundation by developing vendor relationships, creating processes, and reintroducing the space to the community. She credits her success to her love of connecting people, supporting businesses, and creating environments where others can thrive.
Beyond her professional work, Laura is deeply committed to community leadership and service. She serves as an ambassador for the local Chamber of Commerce, president of Hill Country Women in Business, a member of the International Live Events Association, and a member of the City of Boerne’s Zoning Board of Adjustments. She was also honored as Woman of the Year by Hill Country Women in Business. Laura believes that meaningful success comes from showing up, volunteering, building genuine relationships, and serving others. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in kindness, consistency, and integrity—values she brings to every event, partnership, and community she serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laura
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for connecting people and helping businesses thrive. I enjoy creating meaningful experiences, bringing people together through events, and building relationships that have a lasting impact. I believe that kindness, consistency, and integrity are the foundation of strong relationships and have been essential to my personal and professional growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received, and now try to live by, is to build relationships before you need them. Looking back, every meaningful opportunity in my career came because someone knew me, trusted me, or believed in me. That's why I invest so much in people and community.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to become actively involved in their communities and industries, build a strong network, and seek guidance from experienced professionals. Invest in meaningful relationships, develop trusted partnerships with vendors and collaborators, and remain open to learning. Do not be afraid to start over—every new experience is an opportunity to grow and build something valuable.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
People are looking for more than just an event—they want an experience. Whether it's a wedding, a networking event, or a community gathering, they're looking for something personal and meaningful. That's challenged us to be more creative, more flexible, and more intentional in how we serve people.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values I try to live by are integrity, service, relationships, and kindness. I want people to know they can trust me, that I'll follow through on my commitments, and that I genuinely care about helping others succeed. At the end of the day, I don't measure success by titles or accomplishments, I measure it by the relationships I've built and the positive impact I've had on the people around me.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Laura
The Power of Showing Up
How Showing Up Changed Everything: One Woman's Journey from Stranger to Community Leader
When my husband and I moved to Boerne, Texas, I found myself in a position many people experience but few talk about. I knew absolutely no one.
No family. No longtime friends. No professional network. No built-in community.
At an age when many people already have established circles and routines, I was starting over in a brand-new town.
Today, I lead a business organization, serve on community boards, help manage successful businesses, and have built friendships and professional relationships that have enriched my life in ways I never imagined.
The interesting part is that none of it happened because I had a grand plan.
It happened because I showed up.
Growing Up in Las Vegas
Growing up in Las Vegas, life wasn't always easy. My parents divorced, and during my high school years our family struggled financially. Like many young people from working-class families, I learned early that if I wanted something, I would need to work for it. I worked throughout high school and continued working while attending college.
Those experiences taught me resilience, responsibility, and perseverance. But they also taught me something I wouldn't fully appreciate until much later in life: success is rarely built alone.
Nearly 29 Years Ago
Nearly 29 years ago, I married my husband. Together we raised two incredible children. Our son has built a successful career in cybersecurity, and our daughter, whom we adopted at the age of four, now proudly serves in the United States Air Force.
As parents, we hoped our children would learn that circumstances do not determine your future. Character, effort, and determination do.
That same belief has guided me throughout my own life.
Starting Over in Boerne
When my husband and I moved to Boerne, Texas, I found myself in a position many people experience but few talk about. I was starting over socially and professionally in a completely new community.
I could have stayed home and waited for connections to happen naturally.
Instead, I joined a book club.
That single decision changed everything.
The women I met introduced me to new opportunities, new friendships, and new organizations. Soon, I became involved with Hill Country Women in Business, the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce, and the International Live Events Association. Through those organizations, I met people who encouraged me, challenged me, and inspired me to become more involved in the community I now call home.
One opportunity led to another.
One introduction led to another relationship.
One volunteer role led to another leadership opportunity.
Today, I have the privilege of serving as President of Hill Country Women in Business while also working in the events industry, helping create meaningful experiences for families, businesses, and community organizations.
Looking back, none of those opportunities appeared because I had the perfect résumé, the perfect background, or the perfect plan.
They appeared because I was willing to walk into a room, introduce myself, volunteer, and build genuine relationships.
We Underestimate the Power
In a world that often celebrates achievement, I think we sometimes overlook the simple actions that make achievement possible.
- We underestimate the power of attending the meeting.
- We underestimate the power of introducing ourselves.
- We underestimate the power of supporting another woman.
- We underestimate the power of saying yes before we feel completely ready.
Many women are waiting for confidence before they take action.
I've learned that confidence usually comes after action.
Every leadership role I've accepted felt intimidating at first.
Every new opportunity came with uncertainty.
Every meaningful relationship began with a conversation between strangers.
Leadership Is About Helping Others
The women who have influenced my life the most weren't necessarily the most successful or the most accomplished. They were the women who made others feel welcome, who opened doors, who shared opportunities, and who believed in building community rather than competition.
Those women taught me that leadership is not about being the most important person in the room.
Leadership is about helping others feel like they belong in the room too.
Show Up
If I could offer one piece of advice to women who want to grow personally or professionally, it would be this:
- Show up.
- Join the organization.
- Attend the event.
- Volunteer for the committee.
- Ask the question.
- Introduce yourself.
- Reach out to someone you admire.
You never know which conversation will become a friendship, which friendship will become an opportunity, or which opportunity will change the course of your life.
Looking back, I realize that community isn't something you find, it's something you build. And building it begins with being willing to walk into a room where you know no one and introduce yourself anyway.
A powerful story about how one woman transformed her life by showing up and building genuine community connections. From moving to a new town knowing no one to becoming a community leader, discover how simple actions and intentional relationships can change everything.
The Power of Showing Up
From isolation to leadership: one woman's journey of connection and belonging through the simple act of showing up.
Show Up: How Building Community Changed My Life
When my husband and I moved to Boerne, Texas, I found myself in a position many people experience but few talk about.
I knew absolutely no one. No family. No longtime friends. No professional network. No built-in community.
At an age when many people already have established circles and routines, I was starting over in a brand-new town.
Today, I lead a business organization, serve on community boards, help manage successful businesses, and have built friendships and professional relationships that have enriched my life in ways I never imagined.
The interesting part is that none of it happened because I had a grand plan. It happened because I showed up.
Success is rarely built alone
Growing up in Las Vegas, life was not always easy. My parents divorced, and during my high school years, our family struggled financially. Like many young people from working-class families, I learned early that if I wanted something, I would have to work for it.
I worked throughout high school and continued working while attending college.
Those experiences taught me resilience, responsibility, and perseverance. But they also taught me something I would not fully appreciate until much later in life: Success is rarely built alone.
Nearly 29 years ago, I married my husband. Together, we raised two incredible children. Our son has built a successful career in cybersecurity, and our daughter, whom we adopted at the age of four, now proudly serves in the United States Air Force.
As parents, we hoped our children would learn that circumstances do not determine their future. Character, effort, and determination do.
That same belief has guided me throughout my own life.
I joined a book club
When my husband and I moved to Boerne, Texas, I found myself in a position many people experience but few discuss. I was starting over socially and professionally in a completely new community.
I could have stayed home and waited for connections to happen naturally. Instead, I joined a book club.
That single decision changed everything.
The women I met introduced me to new opportunities, friendships, and organizations. Soon, I became involved with Hill Country Women in Business, the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce, and the International Live Events Association.
Through those organizations, I met people who encouraged me, challenged me, and inspired me to become more involved in the community I now call home.
One opportunity led to another. One introduction led to another relationship. One volunteer role led to another leadership opportunity.
Today, I have the privilege of serving as President of Hill Country Women in Business while also working in the events industry, helping create meaningful experiences for families, businesses, and community organizations.
Looking back, none of those opportunities appeared because I had the perfect résumé, the perfect background, or the perfect plan. They appeared because I was willing to walk into a room, introduce myself, volunteer, and build genuine relationships.
We underestimate the power of showing up
In a world that often celebrates achievement, I think we sometimes overlook the simple actions that make achievement possible.
- We underestimate the power of attending the meeting.
- We underestimate the power of introducing ourselves.
- We underestimate the power of supporting another woman.
- We underestimate the power of saying yes before we feel completely ready.
Many women wait for confidence before they take action. I have learned that confidence usually comes after action.
- Every leadership role I have accepted felt intimidating at first.
- Every new opportunity came with uncertainty.
- Every meaningful relationship began with a conversation between strangers.
The women who have influenced my life the most were not necessarily the most successful or accomplished. They were the women who made others feel welcome, opened doors, shared opportunities, and believed in building community rather than competition.
Those women taught me that leadership is not about being the most important person in the room. Leadership is about helping others feel like they belong in the room, too.
Show up
If I could offer one piece of advice to women who want to grow personally or professionally, it would be this:
- Show up.
- Join the organization.
- Attend the event.
- Volunteer for the committee.
- Ask the question.
- Introduce yourself.
- Reach out to someone you admire.
You never know which conversation will become a friendship, which friendship will become an opportunity, or which opportunity will change the course of your life.
Looking back, I realize that community is not something you simply find. It is something you build. And building it begins with being willing to walk into a room where you know no one and introduce yourself anyway.
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