Tina Morris Thomson’s professional journey spans global diplomacy, mission-driven brand building, and now, farming and land conservation. After earning degrees in Spanish and International Relations from the University of Southern California, Tina began her career in public service as an envoy liaison for the Nicaraguan and Guatemalan delegations during the 1984 Olympic Games. She soon moved to Washington, D.C., where she joined the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Protocol, coordinating U.S. visits for foreign dignitaries and world leaders. She later transitioned to The White House, where she served as Trip Coordinator and Scheduler for First Lady Nancy Reagan and was a member of the First Lady’s Advance Team. Tina played a key role in various White House initiatives, including the First Lady’s landmark 1988 trip to Moscow during the U.S.-USSR Summit.
Tina then moved into the private sector, joining The Estée Lauder Companies in New York. She was initially hired to help launch the brand in Russia and was later appointed PR Director for Origins Natural Resources—Estée Lauder’s first environmentally focused line. That experience ignited her passion for sustainability and social responsibility. Inspired by this mission, she later founded Tina Thomson Communications, a bi-coastal PR agency that, for more than 30 years, has guided global communications launch strategies for acclaimed beauty, health, and wellness brands.
In 2021, Tina returned to her hometown of Fillmore, California, to co-lead Rancho Dos Hermanas, a 500-acre ranch she and her sister Laurie reclaimed from their family estate. Together, they have transformed the property into a model for sustainable farming and land conservation. They are currently developing a Mitigation Bank to protect sensitive and endangered species and to promote responsible land stewardship.
For Tina, coming home has been both grounding and deeply meaningful. She feels honored to share this chapter with Laurie, whose insight, compassion, and dedication inspire her every day. Rancho Dos Hermanas is more than a farm—it is their legacy project: a tribute to their roots, a commitment to preserving their family land, and a lasting dedication to promoting education, biodiversity, and community stewardship.
Laurie Morris Smith’s journey began growing up on a small ranch in Fillmore, California. They say that children learn through play and her family’s ranch upbringing taught her many life lessons. She shares a love for expressing her creativity, caring for others, animals and Mother Earth. After decades away of experiencing several diverse careers and raising her own family, she full circled returned her heart and soul back to her family’s hometown and ranch in Fillmore, California.
Laurie went on to pursue her education at the University of Southern California earning a degree in Communications/ Public Relations. After getting married, she made several moves across the country following her husband’s career. Laurie hosted a morning talk show for NBC affiliate KNDU in Kennewick, WA, she also served as an Account Executive at Stafford Advertising in Sioux Falls, SD. After moving back to California, Laurie and her husband were blessed with three children. This is when she decided to go back to school earning a degree in Early Childhood Development. Laurie went on to teach Preschool and Spanish at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, California.
That same compassion and patience now guide her work at Rancho Dos Hermanas, which she co-owns and operates with her sister, Tina. Together, they’ve reclaimed their family’s land and are currently turning it into a living model of regenerative farming, habitat conservation, and community-focused on sustainability.
Rooted in family values and driven by a quiet strength, Laurie brings a grounding presence to R2H. She shares a gift for nurturing not only the land, but the lives that pass through it – whether it’s native animals, habitat or the next generation of environmental stewards. She envisions Rancho Dos Hermanas as a space where young people can learn about Mother Earth, where wildlife can continue to thrive, and where nature is honored and protected for the next generations to come. Laurie’s work is an expression of deep gratitude – for the land, the past, and the opportunity to create something meaningful and enduring alongside her sister.