Welcome to our newest feature, the GOMA Staff Spotlight. Each month, we will be celebrating a member of our staff or teams. Learn more about who we are, what we do, and why we love the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.

This month, we are featuring our fearless leader, Gulf of Mexico Alliance Executive Director Laura Bowie. Laura was the Alliance’s first official employee hired in 2010. Since then, she has helped turn the Alliance into a non-profit and continued the success of the Alliance through three Governors’ Action Plans. She also led the way for the first ever Gulf of Mexico Conference in 2022.

GOMA Executive Director Laura Bowie grew up in Pascagoula, MS; attended Mississippi State University; lived in Houston; & was GOMA’s first employee in 2010. She also has been married 23 years, has two sons, & a few cats and dogs.

What does Laura Bowie love about GOMA? The willingness of team members to contribute. They are working for the Gulf in addition to their day jobs, and that says a lot. For GOMA Executive Director Laura Bowie, the Gulf gives a sense of place, a bit of who we are. 

Laura’s proudest moments as Executive Director of GOMA have been the development and implementation of Governors’ Action Plans; recruiting industry partners to join the conversation; & making GOMCON 2022 happen. 

Do you love the Gulf of Mexico and want to help? Laura Bowie suggests finding like-minded people & start participating. While GOMA Is a great way to make connections, local groups are also always in need of volunteers. 

“I want GOMA to continue to be a trusted resource for those who want to work together to enhance the ecological and economic health of the region,” said Laura Bowie, this months.