Abby Snay

Abby Snay is Deputy Secretary for Workforce Strategy at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. She has worked to increase economic mobility for opportunity youth, immigrants and refugees and people with disabilities, to create a new healthcare workforce initiative in partnership with the California Health and Human Service Agency, to expand apprenticeships in California, and to develop training and workforce opportunities through the state’s climate strategies. Previously, she served as CEO of Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) in San Francisco for over 35 years. Under her leadership, JVS built training and employment programs to help workers with employment challenges develop competitive skills and earn wages that will sustain their families. JVS programs in health care, water utilities, financial services, and youth employment have received national recognition for their innovation and impact. The recipient of the National Skills Coalition 2026 Founder’s Circle Award, she served on the Board of Directors of the National Skills Coalition for 11 years, during which she served as board chair for 4 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in Education from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.