Meet Laura Fessenden | Director of Operations

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Fessenden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
After 24 years in the hospitality industry, it’s become very clear that success is only attained when you have a strong team behind you. The last few years of my career have proven that; Our team went through a tragic event together in 2022 when we lost the owner/founder of the bakery I was managing. The morning after the event, we got together as a team of leaders and decided we’d push through together to keep the ship afloat and to keep his vision alive. Now, nearly three years later, we’re still a solid team and there’s no way we would have gotten through it without each other’s support. I will forever be grateful, and have a huge amount of respect for my team.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career in hospitality began in 2001 right after 9/11. I was let go from my job at a record label in Los Angeles, and decided to move back home to Denver to be near my family. My sister got me a job where she worked, at Illegal Pete’s (a local CO chain), and I quickly grew into management in the 8 years I was there. I left there in 2009 to move to the mountains and live with my now husband, and have a less stressful job. I traded late nights bartending for early mornings as a barista and loved the shift When we found ourselves back in the Front Range in 2017, I found Moxie Bread Co. where I was hired as a barista.

In 2022, the owner/founder passed suddenly and the entire community was devastated. Andy was a bright light – a community beacon. Everyone that knew him, loved him. He was everyone’s best friend. He was also an incredible baker, and businessman. At the time of his death, I was the GM and Andy’s right hand. We worked closely together and he was an amazing mentor to me. Taking on the role of Director after his passing felt like something I had to do, but I was also proud to be called to do it. The last few years have been the hardest of my life; professionally and emotionally.

I guess I’d love others to know that we can do hard things. We got this, but we can’t do it alone.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve become more of a hermit as I’ve gotten older, ha!
I’d take my best friend on a short road trip to the mountains, probably Vail. We’d hike, eat some yummy food and have some coffee. Maybe we’d continue on to Moab to relish in the landscape. We’d eventually head back to Denver and catch a show at Red Rocks, or Mishawaka Amphitheater. We’d check out cool neighborhoods in the Front Range and catch a few happy hours.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve had so many teachers/mentors that have been pivotal in the type of professional I am today. I feel especially grateful for my Bakers Leadership Circle, that was formed in 2024 through the Bread Bakers Guild of America. In this group, I discovered I’m not alone in my challenges, and there is always a solution!

Website: https://www.moxiebreadco.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/moxiebreadco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-fessenden-0ba36296/