Mara Klaunig, MPA

Mara creates customized research and analysis methodologies that help economic and workforce development clients make informed policy decisions. She has over ten years of experience consulting for a wide array of clients across the nation, including local, state, and regional economic development organizations, higher education institutions, non-profits, public libraries, utilities, public transportation, and private developers.

Prior to joining Camoin Associates, Mara ran her own consulting firm focused on regional economic development, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and industry diversification. Before that, she served as Assistant Director of Research for Thomas P. Miller & Associates, a national workforce development consulting firm. While in that position, she created a new line of services for impact analysis and feasibility studies. She also has experience in municipal finance (including tax increment financing) and budgeting.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ball State University and a master’s degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Real Results

Broadband Workforce Strategy | Maine Connectivity Authority | Mara is leading the research and strategy development for a comprehensive broadband workforce plan to address current and projected worker gaps due to significant investment in broadband deployment across the state of Maine. The team interviewed broadband providers and their construction partners to validate occupations, assess current staffing levels, identify training needs, and learn about pain points in hiring, training, and retention. We conducted an economic impact analysis of three broadband investment scenarios and analyzed the workforce gaps for top broadband occupations. Finally, we engaged with education, workforce, and community partners to inform strategy development.

Workforce Attraction Study | State of New Hampshire | Mara was the research lead, responsible for developing the methodology for a workforce assessment and strategy to address current and projected gaps among critical growth occupations in the state’s target industries. The analysis included evaluation of the staffing patterns for the State’s five target industries, the creation of custom labor force projections by age cohorts to account for the State’s aging population, an assessment of employer demand, and a gap analysis to determine high-priority occupations for state and regional workforce strategies and partnership development.

Regional Workforce Development Strategy Planning | Empire State Development | Mara is developing the methodology and leading the analysis to support workforce strategy planning for the targeted industry clusters of 4 regions across New York state. The analysis will include a workforce gap analysis to determine which occupations are expected to be unable to keep pace with employer demand and which skill sets are most urgently needed. When paired with in-depth stakeholder engagement with industry associations, training providers, community-based organizations and wraparound service providers, educational institutions, labor unions, employers, and other relevant stakeholders, the Camoin team will be able to outline a strategy for upskilling and training residents for the most in-demand skill sets needed by employers in the region, engaging underserved populations, and providing wraparound services.

Regional Medtech Strategy | Lansing Economic Area Partnership | Mara is the research support for a comprehensive industry cluster strategy for the Lansing tri‐county region of Michigan. The analysis includes a custom medical technology industry cluster definition, an in-depth analysis of the sector and its supply chains and workforce, including projected workforce gaps. It will be paired with primary and secondary research, stakeholder engagement, and benchmarking. Ultimately, the Camoin team will provide strategies and recommendations to grow jobs and investment in the MedTech sector by attracting new-to-market companies to locate in the Lansing region, building up existing industry companies, and catalyzing commercialization and new startup activity.