About Lauren

Lauren was born and raised in Charleston, SC. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Army and is a combat veteran of the Gulf War. He moved to Western North Carolina in 1992 to attend Warren Wilson College, earning a degree in Environmental Analysis, and later received a Master of Architecture from UNC-Charlotte.

Lauren moved to Transylvania County 12 years ago when he married Reid Wood, a longtime resident of Brevard. He is a graduate of the 2012 Transylvania County VISION class. He served on the Joint Historical Preservation Committee for 3 years and served 2 terms on the Transylvania County Planning Board from 2017-2023 and was Chair when his term ended earlier this year.  He currently works at PLATT,  a firm that has deep philanthropic roots in our community.  

Lauren sees a strong parallel between his experiences as an Architect and on the T.C.  Planning Board and his future role on the City Council.  He explained, “As an architect, I have to negotiate complex projects with a diverse range of people: clients, builders, and other agencies to create a project that fulfills our clients’ desires within a defined budget and timeline.  Having a comprehensive understanding of how to balance all these moving parts provides me with a perfect skill set for working with the city….especially the zoning, infrastructure, and housing issues which are before us.

The members of T.C. Planning Board I served with ranged widely in age, political views, and experiences. Many times we were initially at opposing spectrums regarding issues that came before the board, but through careful listening and consideration of all sides of an issue, the board was oftentimes able to speak with a unanimous voice over a wide range of issues.  That experience working with the County can help strengthen the connections between Transylvania County and the City of Brevard.  This connection between the two is critical for future healthy growth.  

I have spent my professional and civic life finding ways to collaborate with diverse groups and finding solutions to challenging problems.

We have seen some tremendous changes in Brevard over the past few years.  As we move forward, it is critical we find balance between our exciting future and our respect for the lessons and traditions of our past.  The Council’s primary job is to serve all members of the community and to work together to solve local issues including housing, smart growth and economic development, and tackle our infrastructure issues.  I have unique experience that is beneficial to taking on all these issues with our City Council. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the people of Brevard and give back to the community that I am fortunate to call home.”