Board Member Spotlight - Laura Preuss

For Laura Preuss, the opportunity to serve on the Youth Solutions Board of Directors was a natural fit because of the organization’s mission and statewide impact. 

“The mission of Youth Solutions is what inspired me to join,” Laura shares. “Having the opportunity to support an organization that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of young people across Michigan makes it easy to want to invest my time and energy.”

Throughout a career spanning nearly 18 years in workforce development within Michigan’s manufacturing sector, Laura has worked closely with employers, educators, community partners, and post-secondary institutions to strengthen career awareness and workforce pipelines. Those experiences revealed an important need: helping students explore career opportunities long before they enter the workforce.

“I learned that many of the career exploration opportunities that once existed in K-12 education had diminished,” Laura explains. “That motivated me to work alongside schools, industry, and community partners to reconnect students with careers they may never have known existed.”

Today, as the Director of Talent Initiatives with the Michigan Manufacturers Association, Laura continues to build partnerships that create opportunities for both students and employers across the state. That perspective will bring valuable insight to the Youth Solutions Board as the organization continues expanding career development opportunities for Michigan’s youth. 

For Laura, Youth Solutions’ mission is especially meaningful because it helps ensure every student has the opportunity to explore careers and build a plan for the future. 

“I believe every student in Michigan should have access to a pathway toward a career while they’re still in the K-12 system,” Laura says. “Youth Solutions helps schools and students build bridges to opportunities that otherwise may remain unknown. I wanted to be part of helping advance that mission.” 

As a board member, Laura looks forward to collaborating with fellow board members and staff while continuing to learn new ways to support students across Michigan.

“I’m excited to work alongside others who share the same passion for creating career exploration opportunities,” Laura says. “I’m also looking forward to learning more about the many ways Youth Solutions serves students and identifying additional ways I can contribute.” 

Investing in young people has been the driving force throughout Laura’s career. Time and again, conversations with students have reinforced how transformative early career exploration can be. 

“I’ve met so many young people who told me, ‘I had no idea that career even existed,’” Laura reflects. “I’ve also seen students pursue paths that ultimately weren’t the right fit, costing them both time and money.” 

“If we can help students discover possibilities earlier, we can change the trajectory of their lives. I want to be part of the solution, not just talk about the problem.”