Laura Korte, Board Member

Laura Korte recently retired to Greenville after a long career in the chemical industry that included roles in manufacturing and business, as well as engagement with both state and federal regulatory agencies. Laura earned her Chemical Engineering degree from Purdue University. 

She joined Friends to further her involvement in the Greenville community.  She is a member of Greenville Women Giving and volunteers with the Greenville Humane Society and Meals on Wheels.  In addition to volunteering, Laura enjoys hiking, yoga, Pilates, reading, and spending time with her three dogs - Kylo, Harley, and Bella.

Email:  [email protected]

Q&A with Laura

Featured in the November 2024 Reedy Recap Board Member Highlight

Q: What is your favorite outdoor activity?

A:  Walking or hiking.  Pretty much anywhere - the Swamp Rabbit Trail, Conestee Nature Preserve, downtown, or just in my neighborhood in North Main.  I'm definitely not a runner - just a fast walker.  Greenville has so many beautiful areas to walk in, the possibilities are almost endless.

Q: What is the most fun part-time job you've ever had?

A:  Between my freshman and sophomore years in college, I worked for Procter & Gamble in the Charmin toilet paper group.  And consequently, know far more about toilet paper than I really EVER wanted to know.  For example, if you've ever looked at the back of a package and saw a 1-800 number to call with questions or complaints, please know that the companies take those calls seriously.  This was back in the mid-1980s, but we actually had a project to call the people back and ask them questions about their usage (I'm not making this up) as we were having a lot of complaints about the new Charmin at the time.  This was back in the days of land lines (the way back times), and I was on a phone extension writing down answers while another researcher asked questions.  And they had to unscrew the mouthpiece on my phone because I kept giggling.  I couldn't believe that people didn't think this was just a prank call and hang up.  Plus that summer they were developing butter flavored Crisco, so there were numerous taste tests of butter cookies on the campus that we could go to.  Any summer job that includes free cookies - a win/win.

Q: What is the best piece of advice for taking care of the Reedy River?

A:  So much of the litter that we pull out of the Reedy on our big cleanups starts in your very own neighborhood or on a street somewhere.  Then it gets washed into the storm drains with rain storms and ends up in the Reedy River.  So if everyone just made a concerted effort to not only make sure that litter goes in trash cans, but also pick up anything you see in your neighborhood and dispose of it properly, that could definitely cut down on what we find.  I've even walked my neighborhood with a trash bag (when I don't have the dogs with me) and picked up things.  Do I look funny?  Yes I do.  But I'd rather get that plastic bottle out of the ditch by the road than have to dig it out of the Reedy in the spring.