Laura Zabel is the executive director of Springboard for the Arts, an artist-led economic development agency based in Minnesota. Springboard applies the creative process to reframe conversations, develop unconventional partnerships, and devise simple solutions that create reciprocal relationships between artists and communities. Some of Springboard's programs include: Community Supported Art (CSA), which is based on the Community Supported Agriculture model, connects artists directly with patrons and has been replicated in more than 30 cities across the country; the Artists Access to Healthcare program, which was awarded the 2010 Social Entrepreneur's Cup; and the Irrigate project, a national model for how cities can engage artists to help reframe and address big community challenges. Springboard also provides entrepreneurship training and other resources to help artists make a living and a life. Laura was a speaker at the 2012 Aspen Ideas festival and received the 2012 Visionary Leader award from the Harvard Club and MN Council of Nonprofits. She has been one of Minneapolis Business Journal's 40 Under Forty and Minnesota Monthly’s 12 Minnesotans Who Can See the Future. Laura serves on advisory boards for the Knight Foundation, Twin Cities LISC, Minnesota Theater Alliance and the University of Kansas. Laura is also an actor and lives in Minneapolis with her comedy writer husband and 6-year old daughter.