Laurie Barr is an experienced Human Resources executive who is passionate about organizational culture, creating great workplaces, and employee engagement. Laurie has 30 years of human resources experience in private and public sectors and in both union and non-union environments. 

She is a former healthcare executive who spent over two decades working in hospital leadership before an unexpected and deeply personal calling changed the course of her life. When her mother’s health began to rapidly decline, she made the life-altering decision to step away from her career and become a caregiver, helping her mom navigate the complexities of her declining health, ultimately resulting in the diagnosis of a rare neurological disease—Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

Through this experience, she discovered both the heartbreak and quiet beauty of caregiving, and the emotional toll it takes on identity, relationships, and one’s sense of purpose. Her debut memoir, The Long Fade to Morning, is a raw and compassionate account of those years—blending storytelling with practical insights for fellow caregivers navigating similar paths.

Today, she teaches college courses, provides HR consulting and leadership coaching to clients, and mentors up and coming HR professionals. She is also an advocate for caregiver wellness, neurodegenerative disease awareness, and the importance of compassionate healthcare. She writes about burnout, grief, resilience, and how to rebuild your life after caregiving ends.

When she’s not writing or teaching, she volunteers her time for a hospice organization, enjoys the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific Northwest, spending time with her family and three dogs, reading, traveling and reconnecting with herself one day at a time.