Link to Article on The Covington News
By Olivia Sayer
Almost 70 years ago, Laura Sullivan’s great-grandmother starred as an extra in “A Man Called Peter.” The movie was the first of its kind to film in Covington and offered a cherished memory for its residents.
“We were looking through her things when my parents were moving a couple years ago, and we found a newspaper clipping of ‘A Man Called Peter’ [with] a lot of the behind the scenes stuff,” Sullivan said. “And we actually have it framed at the Welcome Center.”
Several decades later, Sullivan now works in the building displaying the snapshot as Covington’s tourism coordinator. She treasures the opportunity to serve the city her relatives called home.
“It’s really cool to know that she had a hand in that,” Sullivan said. “And now I have a hand in that [70] years later, which is just nuts.”
Sullivan took a winding path to achieve her current role.
After stints in the performing arts and radio marketing industries, she applied for the job in 2020. Although Sullivan did not initially get the role, she received a phone call a few months later with an intriguing offer.
“I get a call from the city of Covington HR,” Sullivan said. “And they said, ‘Hey, I know you applied for this one job several months ago, but we actually need help in the HR office for a couple of months. Would you be interested in coming on temporarily to do some admin work for us?’”
Sullivan said she saw the opportunity as a chance to get her foot in the door with the place she previously applied to.
The plan worked to perfection.
The job turned permanent later in the year. Not long after, Sullivan switched to the city’s downtown coordinator role, and when her current job reopened, Sullivan did not hesitate to apply.
“I fell in love with the people [in] the city,” Sullivan said.
The city was one Sullivan is well-versed in, as Covington is where she calls home.
“I am a Covington native,” Sullivan said. “I’ve been here my whole life. My family on both sides is from here, and I’m really proud to have called Covington my hometown.”
The responsibility to lead others in her hometown is not one Sullivan takes lightly. However, she equally enjoys showing newcomers what the city is all about.
“There’s something really rewarding about bringing people into your hometown,” Sullivan said. “And letting them see how special it is and what all it has to offer.”
Sullivan said no two days are the same as the city’s tourism coordinator. Recently, the movie and television industries have overtaken her responsibilities. Covington is a popular filming destination, as evidenced by “A Man Called Peter.”
“We’ve had several film productions come through just in the past couple of months,” Sullivan said. “Right when the strike ended back in November, we had people coming in our office the next day ready to go, ready to get back to work, which was really cool.”
The film industry is a driving force of the city’s tourism, as shows such as “The Vampire Diaries” draw in a substantial number of tourists. Sullivan mentioned that Covington saw 118,000 people come through its Welcome Center in 2023.
Watching the city grow reminds Sullivan of the days she ran around as a child.
“As a local person, it’s insane the amount of growth I’ve seen,” Sullivan said. “It used to be that the square was dead on a Friday after five because everybody went home after work and nobody stuck around. Now, you go on a Friday night, and it is just booming.”
As the city’s tourism coordinator, Sullivan interacts with many different people with a variety of backgrounds. Her outgoing personality, that could partly be attributed to cheering in high school, allows her to thrive in the role.
“I’ve always enjoyed really making people happy,” Sullivan said. “When I was in the radio industry, I loved the thought of making somebody’s day, whether it’s telling a joke on the air or playing their favorite song.”
Now, Sullivan gets to make people’s day in the city she grew up in. The opportunity is one that she is very thankful for.
“When people talk about their hometowns, everybody’s just so ready to get out once they leave high school,” Sullivan said. “But I think it’s really cool to be able to come back and give back to your community. And try and make it a better place, make it better for the next generations.”