Laura Douglas

Interim President & CEO

Laura Douglas received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Louisville where she was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, CWENS, and Mortar Board honor societies. She received her Law Degree from the University of Louisville, becoming the first African American woman to do so, and has been a member of the Kentucky Bar Association and licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky since 1974.

As a practicing attorney, Laura has served as in-house counsel for Standard Oil Company, Director of Community Development for the Legal Aid Society, General Counsel for the Metropolitan Sewer District, and General Counsel for the Louisville Water Company. Her professional experience also includes serving as Cabinet Secretary of the Public Protection and Regulation Cabinet for Governor Paul Patton. She was responsible for regulating Kentucky’s Public Defender system, Alcohol Beverage Control, Banking, Insurance, and the coal mining industry throughout Kentucky. Her professional experience also includes serving as the Vice President of Community Relations for LG&E and KU Energy where she was responsible for all community investments for the company.

After retirement, Laura served as co-executive Director of TARC and CEO of The Muhammad Ali Center while both organizations conducted national searches for permanent leaders.

Throughout her professional career, Laura has also served on the Boards of numerous organizations, including Leadership Louisville; Louisville Bar Association; University of Louisville Foundation; Actors Theatre; Louisville Ballet; Muhammad Ali Center, Federal Reserve Bank – St. Louis Branch; Republic Bank; Women for Women, and Metro United Way.  She has also served as a member of the Louisville Tourism Commission. She currently serves as a voluntary hearing officer for the Kentucky Bar Association where she hears and decides disciplinary cases brought against Kentucky lawyers. She serves as a member of the City’s Ethics Commission.