New York was the epicenter of Marilyn Laverty's life at the start of her career. After graduating from Cornell in 1976, Laverty had a brief foray in the world of journalism at the Ithaca (N.Y.) Journal before joining Columbia Records in 1979 as a publicity assistant. Laverty rose in the ranks at Columbia and decided to form her own company, Shore Fire Media in 1990.
An array of critically acclaimed recording artists, such as Bruce Springsteen, Wynton Marsalis and Elvis Costello, signed on to Shore Fire, which is based in Brooklyn. Laverty was either at her office or at concerts in New York for much of the '80s and '90s.
While Springsteen and the E Street Band were rehearsing in Asbury Park in 2003, Laverty, who had a summer home in Spring Lake, sought feedback about the area from those in the band and crew. "I did an extensive search and looked at the Atlantic Highlands and Red Bank," Laverty said. "I needed a place that took all of my belongings from Brooklyn, which is where my main home was."
Laverty fell in love with Ocean Grove, where she has lived since 2003. "I like the diversity and the downtown area is very walkable," Laverty said. "Asbury Park was already legendary but it was not livable in 2003. There was no development yet. Ocean Grove is next door and it's this cool, funky town."
Laverty felt accepted. "There is this gentle spirit in Ocean Grove," Laverty said. "The Methodist community is one of openness. I love that every nationality is welcome."
Part of the appeal of Ocean Grove is that it's next to Asbury Park. "I love the spirit of the restaurants and shop owners in Asbury Park," Laverty said. "The growth in this city has been tremendous," Laverty said. "There are such great local restaurants. I love coming in here like we are now."
"I always felt that having a place at the shore was the ultimate dream," Laverty said. "After I discovered Spring Lake, I bought a house there in 1998. It was just a summer house. I needed something else and after I looked at so many different places, like Atlantic Highlands and Red Bank, I found Ocean Grove and I love it since there really is no other place like it."
The founder and CEO of Shore Fire Media remains Springsteen's only independent publicist 35-years after they united and is often in Brooklyn office but she always returns to Ocean Grove. "It's just home to me here," Laverty said.