51ÉçÇø

Laurie McKnight, Senior Research Manager for Broadband at OU’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. Previously, she was the Director of Area 14 Workforce Development Board, which includes Athens, Meigs and Perry counties. She has been doing workforce development for over 10 years. She has over 25 years in public service agencies including My Sister’s Place for victims of domestic violence, Athens County Children Services, and Athens County Job and Family Services. She was Vice President of the Ohio Workforce Association. She serves on the Ohio Workforce Coalition’s board. She has been an ambassador with the Athens Chamber of Commerce starting in 2018 to present and receive the 2020 Ambassador of the year award from the Athens Chamber. She serves on advisory committees for Tri County Career Center and the Washington Career Center. She is also serving on the Board of Trustees for the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet).

Laurie’s passion is serving those in her community and the surrounding counties to find their joy in life. She is committed to the area and helping to create jobs and economic mobility for our businesses and community members. Her passion is making sure rural areas have a voice and are represented locally and nationally.

She has been part of the Athens community since coming to 51ÉçÇø for college in 1991. She has a BA in Psychology with a minor in Social Work and her Master of Public Administration through 51ÉçÇø’s Executive Program at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.