Laurie Mays
Foundation, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Laurie Mays joined the Chamber in 2018 and currently serves as the Senior Program Manager, where she collaborates across industries to address Kentucky’s skilled workforce gap. With a strong background in education and program development, Mays previously served as Operations Manager and Director of Youth and Community Education at the Kentucky Horse Park, where she played a pivotal role in creating and implementing impactful programs. Before joining the Chamber, she also developed a nationally recognized program with the United States Pony Clubs at Locust Trace AgriScience Center, a world-renowned high school.
In her current role, Mays leads initiatives that intentionally expand access to meaningful career pathways for opportunity populations, including justice-involved individuals, foster youth, immigrants, individuals with disabilities, and military-connected families. She works alongside employers and community partners to strengthen inclusive hiring practices, reduce barriers to employment, and advance workforce strategies that create economic mobility for Kentuckians facing systemic challenges.
Mays is a Faculty Member and Fellow with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, an Aspen Institute Job Quality Fellow, an appointee on Kentucky’s Employment First Council, a graduate of the Kentucky Agriculture Leadership Program, and serves on multiple boards. These roles further enhance her ability to drive innovative workforce and community solutions. Her extensive experience enables her to work effectively with employers, educators, and stakeholders statewide to build a robust talent pipeline.
Growing up with horses, Mays competed in equestrian sports for decades. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Clemson University, an M.S. in Agriculture from West Texas A&M, and an M.A. in Teaching from Eastern Kentucky University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and competing in agility with her two dogs. Mays and her husband live with their two children on a beef cattle and hair sheep farm in Bourbon County, Kentucky.