Stephanie Veck, Executive Director of Colorado Workforce Development Council

Inner Circle Q&A

What book have you given or recommended the most?
Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch by Curt Coffman and Kathie Sorensen

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
Assuming this is a wish that comes with the talent and physical ability to be successful, a Formula One driver.

How would you describe your leadership style?
Collaborative, honest, considerate, inspiring, hands-off but my door is always open.

What are some industry trends that have an impact on your role as a leader?
What people want most from government is accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness, this is not a trend, but the trend of polarization at the national level make it more important than ever for states to demonstrate that we can work together, we can strive for common-sense solutions that “get it done”, whatever it is.   A recent report by Frank Luntz, Luntz Global, stated that “Americans are looking elsewhere for “real results and real solutions, for real people.” They are looking for their states, and especially their governors, to stand and deliver.    Colorado has been standing and delivering, and it is critically important that we don’t let up now.  

Talent development is a critical issue to nearly every part of our economy.  Matching the right skills, at the right time, to the right job, has never been easy, but as our economy and technology change faster each year, our disparity between thriving and struggling communities continues to grow. Through public-private, local-regional-state partnerships we are working together in Colorado to develop real solutions, that provide access to lifelong learning and quality jobs, as well as working with business as a partner to ensure that they have the skilled talent they need to thrive and grow. We have made a great deal of progress with many programs that have or are becoming national models, but that is not enough, we must modify and adapt to the needs of individual communities and scale to serve every community and business in Colorado. That is a lot of work. Luckily, Colorado is a collaborative culture, has strong leaders at every level from business, community and government, that are committed to ensuring that people and businesses have access to what they need to succeed.

Biography

Stephanie Veck is the Executive Director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), a dynamic public-private partnership that is a Governor appointed, business-led, coalition of industry, state agencies and their local system partners. This coalition works to create an integrated talent development system that meets the needs of students, job-seekers, workers and businesses by aligning education, training, workforce and economic development efforts with the needs of industry.   Stephanie serves on the Governors Business Experiential Learning Commission, the Denver Public Schools Career Connect Board, and the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance Board; and is an Executive Board Member of the Colorado STEM Champion’s. She was the founding program director of Colorado Companies to Watch and continues to serve on its Legacy Board. She has become known as a national leader in cross-agency and public-private partnerships, sharing Colorado’s work with national audiences through a variety of outlets.

A Colorado native and entrepreneur, Stephanie grew up on a family farm in the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado, learning the value of hard work and the strength of community as a young girl.  She earned her business degree from Adams State University and experienced the practical, day-to-day realities of managing a business first by running a rapidly expanding company in three states, and then by starting, and operating two businesses in Colorado.  Prior to leading the CWDC, she worked for the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade. Stephanie balances her busy professional life with the motto “work hard, play harder”, and enjoys the great outdoors with her husband Bill, friends and family including two grandchildren.

Stephanie most appreciates the opportunity to work with volunteers and business leaders throughout Colorado in implementing solutions for our future.  The vision of the CWDC is that every Colorado business has access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan has access to meaningful employment, resulting in statewide economic vitality. To accomplish this goal, all stakeholders must work together to face the always changing challenges of our labor and economic markets; convening these collaborative partnerships is the role of the CWDC.

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