Meet Our January Specialist of the Month: Susan Jewell

This month, we’re proud to recognize Susan Jewell, a dedicated Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) specialist from Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! Luce County Service Center. Susan has spent six years as a JMG Specialist and ten years total with UP Michigan Works!, bringing deep experience, creativity, and heartfelt commitment to helping youth discover their potential and build meaningful futures.

Before joining JMG, Susan built a diverse career rooted in education and community service. She taught preschool for several years, worked as a Substance Abuse Educator with the local health department, and served as a personal assistant before becoming a Talent Specialist at UP Michigan Works!. She spent four years in that role, supporting job seekers and employers, before stepping into the JMG program—where she found the work that truly energizes her.

Susan’s path to JMG was inspired by a presentation from former JMG specialist and current Youth Solutions Manager of Program Success, Meagan Staton, at a UP Michigan Works! all-staff meeting. Meagan’s passion for the program left a lasting impression. “Her enthusiasm was contagious—I caught that bug,” Susan shared. When the opportunity arose to implement JMG for youth in Newberry, Susan didn’t hesitate to jump in.

What motivates Susan most is watching youth grow. She loves seeing students become excited about careers and training opportunities, build new skills, and develop the confidence to plan for a bright future after high school.

One of Susan’s favorite memories as a specialist comes from last year’s Career Development Conference, where her youth competed in the Product Design Competition. As she watched them present to judges, she was moved by their problem-solving skills, teamwork, and creativity. Regardless of how they placed, Susan knew the moment was a success. “I could not have been prouder of their presentation,” she shared.

Susan sees one of the biggest challenges facing youth today as a lack of awareness around employer expectations and work ethic. Through JMG, she addresses this by teaching communication skills and workplace standards in engaging, practical ways. One standout example is her Work Ethic Bingo activity, which sparks group discussions around topics like hygiene, professionalism, and accountability—helping youth better understand what employers expect.

One of the greatest joys of Susan’s work is seeing her JMG alumni succeed. She has watched former students begin careers with the Michigan Department of Corrections, Louisiana Pacific Corporation, and even start their own small businesses. She also loves when alumni return to UP Michigan Works! for help with job searches, applications, or resume proofreading—a sign that they’re using the community resources they learned about through JMG.

Susan believes JMG is especially important because it opens youth’s eyes to career and training opportunities they may not have known existed. Experiences like Leadership Day, Legislative Day, and the Career Development Conference push students outside their comfort zones, foster personal growth, and give them the chance to network with peers from across the state—while representing themselves and their communities with pride.

Outside of work, Susan is a proud Yooper with a love for animals and vintage rides. She recently adopted a shelter cat named Banjo and is also kept busy by her 143-pound Newfoundland dog, Moose. Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Business Marketing from Lake Superior State University. In the winter, she enjoys vintage snowmobile rides on her 1975 Arctic Cat Jaguar, while warmer months are spent at antique car shows with her 1956 Studebaker President—both lovingly maintained by her husband, Ken. She’s also a proud mom, with one child heading to Bay College and another to Northern Michigan University this fall.

Congratulations, Susan, on being named our January Specialist of the Month! Thank you for your passion, dedication, and the lasting impact you make on youth and communities across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Nominations are open to ALL, including our employer partners! If you know a phenomenal specialist, we encourage you to [nominate them here] for our February Specialist of the Month.