Loveland native Van Horn knows where it's fun to stay
By Heidi Hiltbrunner

Laurie Van Horn

Colorado native Laurie Van Horn (MA '97) is no stranger to an organization familiar and loved by many. As a child she experienced the cool mountain breeze and the recreational activities at the YMCA of the Rockies, and as an adult she once again is breathing in that cool mountain air as the organization's marketing director.

The YMCA property in Estes Park is 860 acres with 250 buildings. Though Van Horn said she really enjoys the rugged surroundings and atmosphere working for the YMCA, she “misses having a Starbucks on every corner.” Van Horn, who was born in Loveland and now resides there, calls herself “a Colorado girl” who attended the YMCA camp when she was younger and has fond memories of her time spent there.

“It is a dream job. I couldn't imagine a more incredible job,” she said. “I have an amazing staff, and it is a pleasure to work for them.”

She said the YMCA of the Rockies creates an environment that encourages family or group bonding. As the marketing director, Van Horn said that her duties include doing the Web site, press and media relations and brochures. She also organizes presentations for the CEO and attends trade shows to talk about the YMCA.

Other publications that her particular job deals with are the 50,000 family reservation brochures that are sent to families who visit the Snow Mountain Ranch or Estes Park Center.

She is also involved in publishing the annual report, the sales kit that helps bring groups to the YMCA of the Rockies, and just recently introduced an interactive CD Rom for families, group leaders and family reunion leaders.

“My journalism degrees have opened so many doors for me,” Van Horn said. “When you have that kind of training behind you, you can really do anything.”

Van Horn graduated with an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in 1990. Van Horn lived in Virginia working as a reporter for the Newport News Daily and also served as the entertainment editor in Boise for the Idaho Statesman before returning to Colorado to work for the Rocky Mountain News as a page designer. She spent two years working on her master's degree at the SJMC and taught reporting from 1997 until 2000. She said she still hears from former students and recognizes bylines in local newspapers. One person who Van Horn said really stood out and influenced her while she studied at CU is Beth Gaeddert.

“I miss her incredibly. I admire Beth so much because she's the type of person who always perseveres,” Van Horn said. “She's an incredible journalist, and the help she's given students has taken them to amazing places.”

Sue O' Brien, former SJMC associate dean and director of the master's program at the time Van Horn was in the School, also made a lasting impression. O'Brien died last fall after battling cancer.

“When I started graduate school, she really helped me decide a path,” she said. “She taught me you can be a journalist at heart and not work at a newspaper.” Van Horn said that one of the reasons she decided to leave her newspaper career was redundancy.

“It's news one day and forgotten the next,” she said. “With marketing, I'm seeing results from my work. I love seeing results, and I don't think I ever saw it in journalism.

“Some people love it and thrive on it forever, but I just wasn't one of those people,” she said. “I was curious about what was outside of the newspaper. I wanted to feel more a part of something new.”

After posting her resume online, the very next day Van Horn received a call from Qwest. The corporation needed a writer with Web experience. Van Horn got the job, and her marketing career began. Working for Qwest, she helped persuade small business owners to switch services to digital subscriber line, or DSL.

Van Horn's current Web work includes updating and redesigning the Web site for YMCA of the Rockies. In July 2002, having had some experience in the field with Qwest, she was hired as the marketing director at the YMCA of the Rockies.

Professionally, Van Horn's career has progressed from her beginner days, and personally, her life has also undergone much change. Van Horn was married on Valentine's Day of 2004 to Jeffrey Rock, an electrical/computer engineer for Advanced Energy in Fort Collins who also grew up in Loveland. She said the wedding was a big surprise to her closest friends and family.

“Our guests thought they were coming to an engagement party and then, surprise,” she said. “The pastor walked in. It was great!”

lvanhorn@ymcarockies.org