Laura Fote is an accomplished global entrepreneur and the visionary CEO of L&B Concepts, a multifaceted company specializing in rentals for corporate and private clients, wholesale and retail operations, import and export. L&B Concepts’ distinguished client roster includes the likes of Aramark, Aladdin, IBM, Bowie State University, Georgetown University, Geico, the Institute for Defense Analyses, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Under Laura’s strategic guidance, L&B Concepts has notably expanded its gifting division to cater to the dynamic needs of the entertainment and lifestyle industries.
An ardent supporter of women’s entrepreneurship, Laura is a proud member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the American Business Women Association (ABWA). Her commitment to community and education is further demonstrated through her role as a board member of the Sitar Arts Center in Washington, DC, where she supports providing enriching educational and arts opportunities to underserved families. Under her visionary leadership, L&B Concepts has achieved an impressive array of certifications, including:
– Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
– Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the Small Business Association
– Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
– Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
– Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
L&B Concepts is licensed to operate in the District of Columbia and several states, further expanding its reach and impact. These certifications and licenses are a testament to her dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion in business.
Central to Laura’s business philosophy is making exceptional quality accessible at affordable prices. She has established an extensive network of manufacturers in Asia and Europe, securing partnerships with suppliers of high-end U.S. brands, and has placed dedicated teams in crucial manufacturing hubs including China, India, Thailand, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Poland.
Laura’s proactive leadership was especially evident during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic when she utilized her extensive network to import significant quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), transforming a global crisis into a pivotal business initiative that supported widespread health efforts. Laura’s resilience and drive are deeply rooted in her upbringing in an affluent, nurturing family where she was taught the values of hard work, compassion, and empathy by her parents, her mom a successful business owner and her Dad a high-ranking government official. Raised alongside her four siblings and over twenty foster siblings, she developed a profound commitment to social responsibility, a legacy she continues in honor of her late parents.
Laura’s remarkable journey also includes breaking barriers as one of the few Black women to collaborate with and represent the prestigious Czech crystal glass company, Moser, in the United States, a role that required her to navigate significant bureaucratic challenges to affirm her legitimacy as a global business representative.
Her contributions to business and community have earned her prestigious accolades, including President Joseph R. Biden’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and the Economic Development Award. In 2021, Laura spearheaded the launch of the Gatsby Showcase through L&B Concepts. The initiative’s nonprofit arm, the Gatsby Showcase Foundation, is dedicated to empowering historically marginalized groups to achieve economic independence through education, business development tools, and a supportive network, promoting inclusivity and equity, reinforcing Laura’s dedication to fostering global change and equality.