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Laurie Hurner began her career in Palm Beach County with the UF/IFAS Extension Service in 1995. She returned to Highlands County in 1999 to become the Agriculture Program manager at South Florida State College. In 2003, Hurner was afforded the opportunity to serve the state citrus industry at Florida Citrus Mutual, where she spent 10 years covering water issues with three water management districts, advocating for citrus growers’ continued water use in a changing Florida.

Hurner returned to government work in 2017, assuming the position of county citrus agent for the UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County office, moving into the director position two years later. Hurner began as the assistant county administrator in August 2020; she assumed the title of deputy county administrator/chief of staff in November 2021. On Nov. 17, 2022, Hurner was appointed county administrator by the Board.

Hurner has a master’s degree in Agriculture Education and Communications from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in Business/Citrus from Florida Southern College. She is also a graduate of the prestigious Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources.