Laurie Phelan is the President and CEO of Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (I-JAG) and is also the Director of the Iowa School to Work Office. Laurie holds a Masters of Education degree from Drake University.

Laurie has 13 years experience working at the state and local level designing and implementing strategies, programs and policies to help students who are not successful in the traditional education system. Recently Laurie was asked to chair a committee for the State Board of Education, looking at the reinvention of high schools.

The following quote from Calvin Coolidge characterizes Laurie's approach to her work, "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence…The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."