Courtney Thraen stepped into the Executive Director position at GVS in March 2025. Hailing from Coal City, Illinois, Courtney participated in the Navy ROTC program at The Ohio State University, where she received her commission into the U.S. Navy. Courtney’s active-duty service extended for seven years, including two overseas deployments as Ship’s Navigator aboard the USS MOMSEN (DDG 92) and as an instructor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Courtney supported fellow veterans as a disability claims processor at the Boston VA Regional Office, where she was named the employee of the year. She later served as a program coordinator within the City Planning division at Boston University, and she earned her city planning certification through the American Planning Association in 2021. For over four years, Courtney was Executive Director of Downtown Framingham, Inc., a non-profit Main Streets organization that demonstrated continued, measured success in placemaking, forging productive partnerships, demonstrating best practices for business attraction and retention, and amplifying area marketing. In this role, Thraen received numerous awards and citations, including the Emerging Leader Award from the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce and the Woman Making History Now Award from Framingham State University. Courtney has also served as the Economic Development Manager at the City of Gahanna. Courtney most recently was the Director of Sector Partnerships at Aspyr (The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio), where she facilitated the Healthcare Career Collaborative of Central Ohio that won Ohio’s best workforce project in September 2024.

Courtney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth, a Master of City Planning from Boston University, a Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and an Executive MBA from the Fisher College of Business.