Laura Martine
Laura Martine is a communications professional serving as Director of Communications for the Ohio Treasurer of State in Columbus, Ohio. With more than three years of experience in the field, she leads the office’s communications strategy, overseeing media relations, social media, and content development. In her role, she manages a small team while handling the majority of the office’s writing, including press releases, talking points, and the annual report. Known for her thoughtful and detail-oriented approach, Laura plays a key role in shaping how the office communicates with the public and the media.
Laura began her career in legislative politics, working for the Ohio Senate before transitioning to a legislative liaison role with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. While her early career focused on policy and government affairs, her passion for writing gradually guided her toward communications. She joined the Treasurer’s office and quickly advanced through the ranks, moving from Deputy Press Secretary to Press Secretary and ultimately to Director of Communications. Her career progression reflects both her strong work ethic and her ability to adapt and grow within a fast-paced public sector environment.
At the core of Laura’s work is a deep love for writing, a skill she has nurtured since her academic years with encouragement from teachers and professors. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton and is currently pursuing her master’s in communications at Ohio University. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she is actively involved in advocacy efforts, particularly supporting stomach cancer awareness and research. Laura is committed to authentic, transparent communication and takes pride in using her voice and expertise to inform, connect, and make a meaningful impact.
• Ohio University- Master's
• University of Dayton- B.A.
• University of Dayton 2017 Statehouse Civic Scholar
• National Merit Scholarship Program Letter of Commendation
• High Honor Roll
• Dean's List
• American Citizenship Award
• Valparaiso University Award for Excellence
• Theta Phi Alpha -Alpha Psi Chapter
• Strides Against Stomach Cancer
• Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer
• Columbus Metropolitan Library
• Target Dayton
• United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties
• Ruskin Elementary School
• American Diabetes Association
• Hunger Task Force
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, but also to always wanting to learn more. I think the farther I get in my career and the more opportunities and different people I meet, I just learn so much about what's out there, what I can do, and about myself. Being open to learning has been really important for me. Throughout my journey, I've also learned to be open to any opportunity that comes across my path, even if it's not what I expected or the path I thought I might go down. I don't necessarily say yes to everything, but I consider each opportunity carefully. My teachers and professors along the way really encouraged my writing abilities, telling me I had a skill and talent for it, which helped guide me toward eventually pursuing communications professionally even though that's not how I started my career.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to be open to any opportunity that comes across your path. I've learned to really consider anything that comes my way, even if it's maybe not what I expected or not the path that I thought I might go down. That doesn't mean you necessarily have to say yes to everything, but just being open and considering opportunities has been invaluable to my career growth.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say really value your network. I think, especially as a professional woman, it's important that we support each other, but also that you're maintaining relationships in an authentic way. Don't just go to someone when you need something. Really try to actually connect with people in a genuine manner. I think that will pay off both personally and professionally, and it might lead to opportunities that you otherwise wouldn't have access to. Building those authentic connections and supporting each other as women in the professional world is so important.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think definitely AI is the biggest challenge in communications right now. In my field, we're trying to obviously keep up with current technology and not fall behind, but also being in a more creative field, I think we need to balance that with still using our own creativity, our skills, and our personal style, rather than just letting AI take over. I think there's a balance to find there to make sure that you're still having your authentic voice and using your skills while not ignoring emerging technologies. It's about embracing the technology without losing what makes our work uniquely human and creative.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is one of my most important values. I make sure that I'm always doing the right thing, especially being in the public sector. I think it's important to have that mindset of making sure you're doing the best job and being as truthful and transparent as possible. I'm also a pretty honest person in my personal relationships as well. Another value that I think people don't always think about is passion. I believe in really caring about your field and what you're doing. That can be something big, like working for a non-profit, or it can be something small, like just being excited about your hobbies or excited about your work. Having that passion and enthusiasm for what you do makes all the difference.