Meet our June Specialist of the Month: Carrie Blanchard

This month, we’re excited to recognize Carrie Blanchard, a dedicated Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) specialist, from Genesee Intermediate School District, a program of GST Michigan Works!, who brings creativity, compassion, and authenticity to everything she does. Since joining the JMG network in August 2023 through the Genesee ISD’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program, Carrie has made a lasting impact by helping students build confidence, discover their strengths, and feel a true sense of belonging.

Before becoming a JMG specialist, Carrie spent more than 14 years working with the ISD in various youth-focused roles. With a degree in secondary education from Western Michigan University, she began her career teaching improv classes through a theater company and coaching forensics before transitioning into out-of-school programming and after-school program management. Her passion for working with middle and high school students ultimately led her to workforce development and JMG.

Although Carrie initially knew little about JMG before stepping into the role, she quickly fell in love with the program’s flexibility and student-centered approach. “I love the flow of JMG,” she shared. “You can make it your own and adjust based on what works best for your students.” Her creativity and adaptability have allowed her to create supportive environments where students feel encouraged to grow at their own pace.

What motivates Carrie most is watching students realize their potential. Whether it’s during summer programming, work-based learning experiences, or everyday interactions, she loves seeing students step outside of their comfort zones and recognize what they’re capable of achieving. “It’s amazing how quickly students can grow when they begin believing in themselves,” she said. “Even small accomplishments can completely change how they see themselves.”

One of Carrie’s favorite experiences each year is attending the JMG Career Development Conference (CDC) with her students. She especially enjoys watching students challenge themselves by participating in new experiences and competing alongside peers from across the state. This year, one of her students struggled to process the excitement of earning a third-place trophy, unsure how to react to the accomplishment. With patience and encouragement, Carrie helped him recognize that simply showing up, participating, and believing in himself was already a huge victory. Later, she learned he proudly brought his medal to school to show others. Moments like these remind her why relationship-building is at the heart of her work.

Carrie believes one of the biggest challenges facing youth today is overcoming self-doubt and anxiety. Many students struggle to trust their own abilities or feel overwhelmed by fear of failure. Through JMG, she works to create spaces where students can take healthy risks, build resilience, and learn that growth often comes with discomfort.

One of the greatest joys of Carrie’s role is watching students build relationships with one another. Because her program serves youth from across the county, many students arrive not knowing anyone. By the end of the summer, they’ve often formed meaningful friendships and found a community where they feel welcomed and valued. “It’s really special to see students realize they belong somewhere,” Carrie shared.

Carrie also believes JMG is incredibly important because it helps students develop essential skills that apply to any career path. From communication and teamwork to professionalism and self-confidence, she helps students understand that these skills matter just as much as technical knowledge. Through hands-on experiences and encouragement, students often become more involved in school activities, explore new interests, and pursue opportunities they may have previously been too nervous to try.

Outside of work, Carrie has been married for nearly 27 years and is the proud mom of two daughters. She also has a passion for sewing and once taught sewing classes and ran a small custom drapery business. Carrie made her own wedding dress and is now preparing to help her daughter design and sew hers for her upcoming wedding. She also uses her sewing talents to create memory bears for grieving children through a family-founded charity, helping provide comfort during difficult times.

Congratulations, Carrie Blanchard, on being named our June Specialist of the Month! Thank you for your compassion, creativity, and unwavering dedication to helping Michigan’s youth grow in confidence and discover their potential.

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