Laura Shepard
Chief of Staff
Laura Shepard serves as Chief of Staff for The Gambrell Foundation. Laura manages special projects and events, including the annual DifferenceMakers CLT program in partnership with grantee Communities In Schools. She has been with The Gambrell Foundation since 2017 and also works with Belk Gambrell Enterprises, supporting the family office.
Laura loves to travel and has been to 47 countries and all seven continents, having visited the last continent on her bucket list — Antarctica — in 2024. Laura is a football referee, yoga instructor, and an International Protocol Officer. She is a certified SCUBA diver and loves to dive with turtles in Bonaire. She enjoys participating in the annual 5 Boro Bike Tour, riding 40 miles through New York City, and Legos. She has two daughters, a son-in-law, and a grandbaby!
On Laura’s Desk
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
In Awe, Dacher Keltner presents a sweeping investigation and deeply personal inquiry into this elusive feeling. Revealing new research alongside an examination of awe across history, culture, and within his own life, Keltner shows us how cultivating awe in our everyday lives leads us to appreciate what is most humane in our human nature. At turns radical and profound, brimming with enlightening and practical insights, Awe is our field guide for how to place this emotion as a vital force within our lives.
by Dacher Keltner
Learn More
The Capitol Chase
When the arduous battle tempo catches up with American covert operative Chase Fulton and his team, a little R and R is exactly what the doctor ordered. But for operators like Team 21, there’s no such thing as downtime. Don’t hold your breath… or perhaps you should… as you take to the sea with Chase and his band of fearless warfighters on an adventure that promises edge-of-your-seat excitement, heart-pounding drama, unimaginable feats of heroism, and twists no one could’ve seen coming.
by Cap Daniels
Learn More
Oath of Office
Marine officer. CIA analyst. President. Jack Ryan has devoted his life to protecting the United States. What if this time, he can’t? As sensationalized stories spin out of control and the stolen missiles remain out of reach, President Ryan’s toughest challenge emerges: How do you meet an enemy head on, when he won’t even show you his face?
by Tom Clancy
Learn More