Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter is making a key appointment to his administration. Laura Dodd will assume the role of deputy county executive this week, overseeing the county’s economic development and aviation departments to bolster the strategic goals of a thriving and inclusive economy and a skilled and educated workforce.
She also will manage the county executive’s state government relations.
“Laura is a proven leader, having served in multiple roles in Economic Development since 2019,” Coulter said. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated the vision and expertise to strengthen our workforce and support our businesses and communities.”
Dodd is an executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience in economic development, nonprofit management and organizational operations. She rises from her current position of deputy director of economic development for Oakland County, where she oversaw a $10 million budget and a 63-person division responsible for business development, planning and community development, veterans’ services and transit.
“Oakland County has a national reputation for fostering innovation, supporting businesses of all size and investing in people because of County Executive Coulter’s visionary strategic goals,” Dodd said. “I look forward to working with our outstanding team, community partners, employers and organizations to build on this momentum to create even more opportunities for residents and businesses to thrive and to help our aviation department soar.”
Previously, she served as chief operating officer of Oakland THRIVE from 2023-2025, where she co-founded the organization and helped implement the $17 million Business Forward small business assistance initiative. Business Forward, through a team of 23 full-time employees and 75 contractors, delivers technical assistance to small businesses prioritizing women, minority and veteran entrepreneurs.
Her career also includes leadership roles with the University of Michigan, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust and Cranbrook Institute of Science.
Dodd earned a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Western Michigan University.
She currently serves as president of the Huron Valley Schools Board of Education and is a trustee on the CLEMIS (Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information Systems) Authority Board.
Dodd replaces Sean Carlson, who left the county earlier this year to run for state office. Deputy county executive appointments do not require the approval of the board of commissioners. She begins her new role on Thursday, July 30.
She also will manage the county executive’s state government relations.
“Laura is a proven leader, having served in multiple roles in Economic Development since 2019,” Coulter said. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated the vision and expertise to strengthen our workforce and support our businesses and communities.”
Dodd is an executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience in economic development, nonprofit management and organizational operations. She rises from her current position of deputy director of economic development for Oakland County, where she oversaw a $10 million budget and a 63-person division responsible for business development, planning and community development, veterans’ services and transit.
“Oakland County has a national reputation for fostering innovation, supporting businesses of all size and investing in people because of County Executive Coulter’s visionary strategic goals,” Dodd said. “I look forward to working with our outstanding team, community partners, employers and organizations to build on this momentum to create even more opportunities for residents and businesses to thrive and to help our aviation department soar.”
Previously, she served as chief operating officer of Oakland THRIVE from 2023-2025, where she co-founded the organization and helped implement the $17 million Business Forward small business assistance initiative. Business Forward, through a team of 23 full-time employees and 75 contractors, delivers technical assistance to small businesses prioritizing women, minority and veteran entrepreneurs.
Her career also includes leadership roles with the University of Michigan, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust and Cranbrook Institute of Science.
Dodd earned a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Western Michigan University.
She currently serves as president of the Huron Valley Schools Board of Education and is a trustee on the CLEMIS (Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information Systems) Authority Board.
Dodd replaces Sean Carlson, who left the county earlier this year to run for state office. Deputy county executive appointments do not require the approval of the board of commissioners. She begins her new role on Thursday, July 30.
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