Director of Strategic Talent Initiatives, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Spencer Lucker is a passionate public servant and community builder, who serves as director of strategic talent initiatives for Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and a leader of its Talent Solutions division. MEDC Talent Solutions is investing in Michigan’s greatest natural resource, its people, through collaborative partnerships with the PK-12 system, higher education institutions, workforce agencies and employers. Spencer leads the division’s strategy for PK-12 alignment and talent attraction and retention efforts to ensure Michiganders pursue their career goals in the Great Lakes State. As part of this role, Spencer is part of the working group designing a vibrant talent innovation ecosystem at Michigan Central Station.
He draws on diverse experience across urban and rural communities. Prior to joining MEDC, he was director of employer engagement for Detroit at Work, where he engaged partners in high-growth industries to design the City’s strategy to recruit quality jobs and create opportunities for Detroiters to pursue meaningful careers. Spencer has also worked on entrepreneurship and workforce development across the Mississippi River Delta and in Washington, D.C.
Spencer is currently active on local boards serving Metro Detroit, including as the President of the NEXTGen board of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. He has also been a literacy mentor for Brilliant Detroit, an organization that seeks to build kid success neighborhoods, since moving to Detroit, and currently serves on their Scaling & Strategy committee. He is proud to be fully educated in Arkansas’ public education system, graduating with two B.A.s in International Relations and Spanish from the University of Arkansas and his Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service.
Spencer lives in Detroit with his wife Stephanie, his three-year-old twins Avi and Mila, and their dog Cosmo. Whether it’s across the country, state, or other side of town, Spencer loves a good road trip or bike ride, exploring new places and enjoying local food along the way.