BOULDER COUNTY
LAURA LEVY
BRIDGING COMMUNITIES:
LAURA LEVY’S PATH FROM CORPORATE REAL ESTATE TO CU ATHLETICS
Laura Levy, a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Realty, originates from the picturesque coastal town of Mendocino in Northern California, nestled amidst wine country. Laura grew up in the industry where her mother was a top agent who specialized in ocean-front and ocean-view homes. Laura’s academic journey led her to San Diego for college, and later, she ventured to the Bay Area, where she found her love for the real estate industry working for a prestigious luxury real estate firm. In the early 90s, in the pre-internet era, she immersed herself in various pivotal roles within the company. Laura underwent a transformative learning experience, honing her expertise in creative marketing strategies crucial for drawing international buyers to luxury properties.
During those years, her introduction to innovative marketing strategies was rewarding. Yet, amidst the hustle of city life, Laura yearned for the tranquility of rural surroundings. One day in a library, fate intervened: a University of Colorado course catalog sat by itself on a table, its cover adorned with a breathtaking overlook of Boulder from Highway 36.
“From the instant I glimpsed that photograph,” Laura recounts, “I was spellbound by the scene and forever captivated by Boulder’s natural beauty.”
Shortly after that, Laura visited Boulder. She explored the region over Memorial Day weekend and was impressed by Boulder’s vibrant atmosphere. “The city was alive with events like the farmer’s market, the
Boulder Creek Festival, and the Bolder Boulder race. The entrepreneurial spirit and beautiful environment left a lasting impression on me. Boulder immediately felt like home. Over the 4th of July holiday in 2024, I celebrated my 30th year in Boulder!”
When Laura first arrived in Boulder in 1994, she worked with a top agent team in a supportive role, primarily handling marketing and transaction tasks. The team focused on condominium sales and working with CU families as clients. Laura also took on project management duties and helped to build a specialization in marketing subdivisions for builders. Her diverse experience gave her a unique perspective on real estate, blending sophisticated corporate branding and marketing continuity with the professional standards of working with Wall Street investors and larger budgets.
In 2010, Laura was working on the builder side of real estate, but the recession hit hard, especially in Colorado’s multi-family sector, leading to significant client losses and professional exhaustion. Laura states, “I needed a break and decided to start a small consulting business focusing on marketing, PR, and social media. Additionally, my mother was fighting cancer and I needed to focus my energy more on my family while taking a breather from the sales side of real estate. Coldwell Banker hired me as a consultant for my marketing expertise in establishing their initial social media channels, marking the beginning of my relationship with the company.”
In 2013, the Colorado floods wrought havoc upon her beloved Lyons community, leaving homes and infrastructure in ruins. Laura’s adept project management and community mobilization efforts caught the attention of Larimer County, propelling her into the temporary role of a recovery manager. She was recognized with a Governor’s Service Award by the State of Colorado for her efforts. This transformative experience of working on the flood recovery strengthened her ties within her local community and reignited her passion for local real estate upon reentering the industry. She became an independent agent with Coldwell Banker’s Boulder office where her clients recognized her unique marketing and negotiation abilities, making her quickly become one of the top agents in the area and for Coldwell Banker in Colorado. In 2019, she hired an administrative support team and opened an office on Main Street in downtown Lyons with a unique
Laura's retail store "Solace" on Main Street in Downtown Lyons
design that features a small tourist shop to help promote Lyons.
Although Laura had a thriving real estate career, Larimer County reached out to her once again in 2020 to ask for her assistance with pandemic recovery efforts. They recognized her ability to bring people together and find solutions. Laura worked on a full-time contract with the county for 10 months while navigating the challenges of working in real estate during those early days of the pandemic. She is thankful for her support team who allowed her the capacity to manage both roles simultaneously. Additionally, in 2021, she opened another retail store in Lyons called Solace on the heels of the pandemic.
“The space next to our Lyons office was empty and a bit blighted, so I decided to put an uplifting retail store in that space to help contribute to the revitalization of our struggling, post-pandemic downtown. Solace is a home store that focuses on pampering items to “feather your nest”. I’ve always had a large
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Laura support team members Sue Painter and Andrea Rodgers in front of Lyons office
Laura with her husband, William Levy
work capacity, but I could not have jumped in with both feet without a truly great support team. My team is family.”
Laura’s favorite thing in life is connecting people and building community. Seeing the power and spirit of what happens when people decide to come together inspires her. Her involvement with the University of Colorado (CU) reflects this passion. As a long-time “passive’ supporter of CU Athletics, she became particularly enthusiastic when Deion Sanders was hired. She says, “I’ve always been a fan of CU athletics, and I believe it’s a fantastic university. When Deion Sanders was selected as our football coach in 2022, I was excited. Coming from the Bay Area, where I followed Deion’s career as a 49ers fan, I told my husband, ‘This is a big deal for Boulder. It’s going to make a huge impact and I want to be involved.’” Her excitement grew further when her son was accepted to CU just a month later, prompting her to deepen her involvement with the university.
Laura increased her engagement by becoming a multi-sport season ticket holder and a more prominent donor. She also entered a multi-year sponsorship agreement with CU Athletics. In her attempts to support CU on every level and be part of the greater CU family, she has built personal relationships with the administration, coaches, and athletes and participates in numerous university organizations to support athletics and academics. She even expanded her tourist shop in the Lyons office to include designer Buffaloes apparel.
Laura has formed a unique friendship with Peggy Coppom, a 99-year-old CU super fan, and is celebrating her in her marketing videos. Laura says, “I try to do what I can to help support the school. Marketing should not just be about advertising; it should inspire or bring people together. During a big recruiting weekend, I encouraged The Sink to name a burger after a 5-star recruit and then asked the Boulder Theatre to post a message on their marquis to the same recruit. A group of us welcomed the recruit and his family with banners at the Champion Center. Involving businesses and the community in grassroots recruiting was
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Behind the Scenes - Laura Levy video shoot
- Peggy Coppom, Deion Sanders, Jr and members of Buffs football team
a lot of fun and I think it helped. Whether it’s through events, as a supportive business owner, or recovery efforts, seeing people come together in an inspiring way is what fuels me.”
When Laura isn’t working or devoting her time to CU or the Lyons community, she and her husband, Bill, son Wyatt and dog “Whiskey,” are enjoying life in Colorado. “Living next to 800,000 acres of National Forest, we don’t need to go far. We have a surf boat we love going to the lake, particularly because my son loves surfing. I enjoy anything water-related”, states Laura. Beyond that, it’s all about enjoying the Boulder area. Wyatt is in a CU fraternity and is an avid golfer, while Bill is passionate about skiing and mountain biking.
Laura has formed deep REALTOR® friendships over the past 30 years. She says, “Watching their success and
businesses grow has been inspiring, and we often cross paths. While clients come and go, the relationships with my REALTOR® colleagues are enduring. Treating each other well is crucial because we encounter each other repeatedly. And as friends, we support each other because there is no one else who quite understands the unique dynamics of this crazy and rewarding industry”
In closing, Laura says, “I hope readers of this publication know how much I appreciate my fellow REALTORS®. Our work and dedication are often underappreciated, but that work is so gratifying when done for the right reasons—to serve the dreams of our clients.”
Laura’s son, Wyatt
