LANEY ODOM

BIO

After finishing college, Laney spent seven years working as a concierge—a profession that came easily to her bright & helpful nature—and which instilled into her foundation the importance of teamwork, attention to detail, strong communication, personal accountability, and of course, great service. When it came time to make a shift, Laney left The Hyatt for South America. It was a pivotal time of connection and risk-taking: traveling alone, volunteering, exploring new cultures, and healing from grief. It was a remarkable experience that also included a hippie van across Peru and plenty of mojitos.

Upon returning to San Francisco, Laney dove headfirst into the corporate world as a Group Sales Manager, selling and orchestrating weddings and corporate events. Though she’d certainly found her niche in event planning, a yearning for less red tape sent her off to Austin, where she threw herself into the turbulent world of freelance event production, trusting it would all work out. Luckily for her, it did.

In pursuing her passion over the years, Laney not only received invaluable experience learning the ins & outs of interactive and large-scale event production but also met a number of brilliant people, from whom she’s gained invaluable knowledge and inspiration. One of these people is James Chippendale, who altered Laney’s course when she unexpectedly became his implementation sidekick, assisting with philanthropic adventures and bringing creative projects to life. The most ambitious of these projects is a boutique hotel in Mexico—NEST Tulum—which gave Laney the chance to combine her wide-reaching management skills with her innate talent for operations and service, resulting in one of the most unique and thriving boutique hotels on Tulum Beach.

As a long-time festival gal, art admirer, and social chameleon, Laney believes exceptional experiences are the most substantial way to enhance community and culture at any scale. Her trust in herself, in her serendipitous career path, and in the universe has given her the opportunity to continue honing her passion for creative and art-focused production, while she simultaneously ran a dream hotel in the heart of Tulum. After nearly 5 years of this, she longed to create her own hotel/land-based project in Colorado inspired by her career and her passion for authentic hospitality. Shortly after her land search officially began, she met Jon Jenkins and heard about his vision for Everland. In April 2019, Laney became a Co-Founder with Jon to actualize Everland and devoted her career (and life) to helping this project exist in our world. In Winter 2023, Everland announced its closing due to a myriad of obstacles the start-up and unique project could no longer weather.

As COO and C0-Founder of Everland, Laney expanded as an open-hearted learner and leader. Although Everland may have concluded, its impact and dream will persist, motivating her to lead with love and actively pursue collaborative opportunities with similarly passionate individuals. She thrives in the realms of business operations, project management, event production, hospitality, and magic-making and is driven to create as many exceptional experiences as time will allow in life and in her career. She is always up for a challenge and ready to collaborate. Are you?

FUN STUFF ABOUT LANEY

I am fiercely loyal.

I am committed to sustainability and launched major eco-programs at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco and at the San Francisco Zoo.

I am an adventurer, particularly fond of exploring foreign countries (I’ve been to 26 and counting).

I am direct (maybe too much so)!

I enjoy podcasts as well as business management and self-guidance books,

I think my common sense levels are through the roof!

I enjoy silliness, sarcasm, and sass!

Attended my first Burning Man in 2000! This sparked a lot in me and helped develop my passion for art, community, and culture (and a nickname aka ready).

I have a white mixed-breed mutt with an adorable black eye patch, she is named Mazzy.

Kindness, mindfulness, and compassion for the win, always.

Nature is my church!