Join the Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the College of Health Sciences, and the Women in STEAM student organization for student research posters, award presentations, and a keynote address by Laurie Kuzneski at this year’s STEM Women’s Summit.
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11:00 a.m.–Noon - Kopchick second floor lobby - Refreshments, networking tables, and student research posters
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Noon–12:15 p.m. - Kopchick 104 - Introduction and Awards Presentation
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12:15–1:00 p.m. - Kopchick 104 - Keynote Speaker: Laurie Kuzneski, president of Kuzneski Insurance Group, IUP alumna, and IUP Council of Trustees vice chair
Laurie Kuzneski
Laurie Kuzneski is the president of Kuzneski Insurance Group—an employee benefits, insurance, and human resources consulting firm. Started by her father-in-law in 1966, the firm has had a long-standing history in Indiana County and in Western and Central Pennsylvania.
In 2013, Kuzneski and her husband, Andy, took ownership of Kuzneski Insurance Group. Beyond managing the marketing for KIG, she was responsible for developing the culture of the organization. As an owner, she has held numerous positions, including HR, operations, finance, and business development. In February 2024, Laurie succeeded her husband in the role of president of KIG.
A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in journalism and public relations, Laurie started her career in marketing and PR for a large, regional financial institution. In 2002, she followed her passion and started Miss Laurie’s Gourmet Kitchen, a home-based business that began with a family recipe for peanut brittle and evolved into a cooking school for kids. Miss Laurie hung up her apron in 2018 after teaching more than 2,000 kids how to cook and seeing a handful graduate from culinary school.
Laurie has extensive leadership, fund-raising, and board experience in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. She has raised millions of dollars for organizations such as the United Way of Indiana County, the YMCA of Indiana County, and the International Myeloma Foundation, based in Los Angeles, to name a few. Currently, Laurie is vice-chair the Board of Directors for the Indiana Regional Medical Center/Punxsutawney Area Hospital/Armstrong County Memorial Hospital/Pennsylvania Mountain Care Network, is the vice-chair of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is the first female chairman of the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, and is a board member for the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, a board member of the Indiana County Development Corporation, and a member of many committees for these organizations.
Another passion of Laurie’s is investing in and mentoring start-up companies, especially women-led companies. She is a member of The Rising Tide Fund and The Next Act Fund, which both invest in companies founded and led by women, and the Fem Tech Fund, which invests in women’s healthcare.
Laurie lives in Indiana, Pennsylvania, with her husband and their three children.