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Marie Hocker

Principal
Location: United States
Focus Area: Littlest Learners / Adult Learners
Regional Focus: United States
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Meet Marie, a principal at Imaginable Futures. She works with organizations to increase family prosperity and well-being with a focus on the education of student parents and young children.

Previously, Marie worked for Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) where she served as executive director of Grow Detroit’s Young Talent. She led efforts to raise $12 million in annual funding and build employer partnerships to train and employ more than 8,000 youth over the summer.

Prior to joining DESC, Marie spent 10 years at Ford Motor Company (Ford) holding positions in government and community relations. She was responsible for building and maintaining positive relationships with members of Congress and staff while covering transportation and workforce development policy in Washington, D.C. She also engaged local government officials and other industry stakeholders to deliver business and philanthropic objectives in Ford’s Michigan plant communities. In addition, she developed and implemented mobility initiatives, including workforce development planning for autonomous vehicles and a national autonomous vehicle jobs coalition.

Earlier in her career, Marie worked for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow as a Legislative Correspondent.

Q+A

What year did you start at Imaginable Futures?

2021

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of giving youth in my hometown of Detroit access to middle-class careers and a professional network that will help support their wellbeing and economic mobility for generations to come.

What lessons did you learn early in your career that you keep with you today?

Listen. You can learn from anyone anywhere.

What current Imaginable Futures endeavors most excite you?

I am most excited about working with organizations to shape public policies that support early-childhood education and student parents in the U.S.

Where is your happy place?

My happy place is along the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan.


If someone narrated your life, who would you want it to be?

The Honorable John Lewis

Favorite quote:

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” -Nelson Mandela

What do you imagine or wish for the future?

I wish for a future where people are equipped to step into their power and create the lives they always imagined for themselves and their children.