Laurel Canan brings a unique perspective with her experience as a booking agent and former presenter. In July, 2013 she became owner of the agency, Center Productions.

Laurel has been in the arts industry for over 24 years. She served as executive director of the Janesville Performing Arts Center (Janesville, Wisconsin), working with the community to see the dream of a performing art center become reality by opening the Center in 2004.  Managing the capital campaign for the Janesville Performing Arts Center project, Laurel was instrumental in raising $3.4 million for the restoration project. She has extensive experience in all facets of arts management, programming, arts marketing, organization strategic planning, and fundraising.

Laurel was recognized for her work the arts as recipient of Forward Janesville’s "Woman of Excellence- 2008” award and induction into the Rock County Arts Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Laurel enjoys continuing education and professional development. She participated in the Prairie Arts Management Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the Professional Arts Management Institute at Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. She has lead professional development sessions for several organizations.  Laurel has also been a guest lecturer on Arts Administration and Development for several university programs. Laurel has also served as adjunct faculty in Arts Administration at Viterbo University, LaCrosse, Wisconsin and Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana.

During her time in Wisconsin, Laurel was a State Captain for Arts Wisconsin working on arts advocacy issues around the state and the national level.   Laurel served on grant review panels for the Wisconsin Arts Board and the South Dakota Arts Council.   

Laurel is past board president of the North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA) board and is past board president for the Ohio Arts Presenters Network (OAPN). She co-chaired the 2016 Arts Midwest Regional Conference and in 2010 and 2011 served as co-chair of OAPN's Annual Showcase Conference. Laurel currently serves on the board of Heartland Performing Arts, Inc., and was instrumental in planning the Midwest Arts XPO held in September, 2023.

She earned her MPA (Masters, Public Administration Degree) from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.