Laura Ringo

For the last 16 years Laura Ringo has served the executive director of PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well. (formerly Partners for Active Living). PAL improves health and wellness throughout Spartanburg County by creating an environment and culture that fosters physical activity and healthy eating through an equity lens. PAL is a small nonprofit working to enact large-scale change.

Under Laura’s leadership, the organization is driving an ambitious urban trails plan that will lead to a 50+ mile network and recently secured a $23.8M federal grant for The Dan Trail System, spearheaded the creation of the $1.5M Rail Yard Community Park and Vic Bailey Subaru Bike Park by redeveloping a brownfield, launched the Southeast’s first bicycle-sharing program – Spartanburg B-cycle, and has grown the annual downtown criterium from 1 spectator tent to more than 100. None of these would be possible without a strong group of collaborative public and private partners.

Laura loves the Spartanburg community and enjoys being involved. She serves as president of the Hampton Heights Neighborhood Association and vice president of the Pine Street School Foundation. She is past president of Leadership Spartanburg Alumni Association, and a former board member of the Spartanburg Chamber’s executive committee, Mary Black Health System, Palmetto Cycling Coalition, Eat Smart, Move More SC, and a diaconate member for First Presbyterian Church./Laura and her husband Will have been renovating a historic home for half of their life (or so it seems), are parents of two daughters, one dog, and the world’s meanest cat.