Laoise (pronounced Lee sha) King comes to the CTDOT with more than 20 years of experience in local government and not-for-profit organizations.

Most recently, Laoise served as Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Norwalk, CT. As Chief of Staff, Laoise managed all administrative functions for the City or Norwalk at the direction of the mayor. She also provided guidance to elected officials on policy and planning as well as working closely with the City’s State and Federal delegations to achieve the City’s legislative agendas and secure funding for municipal projects.

Prior to coming to the City of Norwalk, Laoise served in various capacities in local government and non-profit sectors. She worked as Vice President of Education Initiatives at United Way of Greater New Haven where she was a member of the senior management team and was responsible for the design and management of community investments, partnerships and programs related to education. Before joining Unity Way, Laoise served the City of New Haven as Assistant Corporation Counsel, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor and finally as Chief of External Affairs for the New Haven Public Schools. Laoise also advised the Mayor on public policy matters, implemented Mayor’s Office initiatives, and assisted the Chief of Staff in day-to-day operations of the City.

Born in Ireland, but raised in Connecticut, Laoise returned to Connecticut in 2005 after living in Colorado for ten years. In Colorado, Laoise worked as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Denver. Laoise received her Juris Doctor from University of Denver College of Law and her B.A. degree from University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Laoise and her family love to travel - they have traveled to South America, Central America, Europe, and Africa, but her favorite place to go is to their lakeside cabin in Minnesota near where her husband grew up.