Amy Jo Queen

Assistant Director

I love working at Future Plans because helping others find direction, purpose, and opportunity is at the heart of the work, aligned with the mission of ending poverty one person at a time. With roots in agriculture and experience in the trades, healthcare, and higher education, I bring a grounded understanding of workforce development and the relationships that make it effective.

About Amy Jo Queen

Assistant Director, Future Plans

As Assistant Director at Future Plans, Amy Jo Queen sees her work as a privilege, an opportunity to support people, communities, and partners as they grow Ohio’s workforce, mindset, and future together. Her role centers on helping colleagues stay present, prepared, resourceful, and responsive so they can best serve students and communities across the region.

Day to day, Amy is deeply involved in both school‑based and community‑based initiatives. She helps guide local programming, supports capacity‑building projects, and contributes to efforts that strengthen entire communities. She is especially energized by summer programming and workforce‑ready bootcamps—initiatives that create real, tangible opportunities for students and jobseekers. Ultimately, her work benefits individuals across all ages and backgrounds, and she approaches each day with gratitude for the meaningful impact it allows.

Amy’s personal “why” is rooted in lived experience. Her heart, shaped by challenge, healing, and growth—is what keeps her committed to serving others. She believes perspective fuels purpose, and her dedication reflects a deep understanding of how transformative the right support at the right moment can be.

One story stands out in her work: a young woman who once saw herself only through the lens of trauma and hardship. At risk of not finishing high school—and struggling to see her worth—she joined Amy’s summer programming. Her path changed, and in time, so did her life. Today she is a phlebotomist, holds multiple positions, and is pursuing college to become a nurse. Amy calls it a miracle story and a powerful reminder of what opportunity, support, and belief can make possible.

Her work continues to expand across schools, agencies, employers, and community organizations. Based in a high school in Adams County, Amy serves on multiple boards and advisory groups connected to workforce development, education, and community initiatives. These partnerships thrive because of shared trust, consistency, and a willingness to show up and do the work together.

Among her greatest strengths are connection and persistence. Even when things don’t unfold as planned, Amy keeps showing up—listening, engaging, and creating pathways for possibility. She believes trust is built by presence and action, and that consistency is one of the most powerful tools in community‑centered work.

Amy holds both an associate and bachelor’s degree and is close to completing her master’s degree—just eight pages remain in her 80‑page thesis. She is guided by values that shape every decision she makes: integrity, accountability, kindness, and collaboration.

Outside of work, Amy is preparing for a new adventure as the owner of Queen Acres Lavender Farm, a place rooted in peace, purpose, and the land she calls home. She loves sunrises, sunsets, photography, nature, and cheering for her favorite teams: Ohio State Buckeyes football and Kentucky Wildcats basketball. Above all, she is guided by her faith and the calling she feels to serve others.

If she could wave a wand this year, she’d bring an Opportunity Abundance Mindset to every community—one where people can thrive, contribute, and build meaningful futures right where they live.