Lauren Tayara

Lauren Tayara has been in local government for over 8 years and currently serves as the Budget Manager for Mecklenburg County, NC. She graduated with her MPA from UNC Charlotte in 2017, with concentrations in Urban Policy and Management as well as Nonprofit Management, and a certification in Financial Technology. She remains engaged in both her education and her community, founding NCLGBA's "Women in Leadership" session series and completing the "Leading for Results" Civic Fellowship Program through UNC Chapel Hill. Lauren was featured by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) as a Top 100 Influencer in Local Government for 2025. In her current role, Lauren serves as the lead for several budget programs, including the Community Service Grant Program. When she isn’t serving her community, Lauren is traveling, crafting, thrifting, and spending time with her family and two cats.