Denise Miller, Ed.D. is the Director of Apprenticeship Colorado at the Office of the Future of Work in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). After 15 years in direct service and program leadership, Denise earned a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt's Peabody College with a focus on the social context of education from preschool through adult learning. She serves as the Colorado subject matter expert in state legislation and actively contributes to national apprenticeship expansion policy through her membership in the National Association of Apprenticeship State and Territorial Directors (NASTAD), the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, and collaboration with the US Department of Labor. Her background in education and workforce in low-income communities, commitment to Colorado's distinct local diversity, and dedication to partnership drives her to create an inclusive and equitable registered apprenticeship system. Since joining the CDLE in 2019, Denise has secured over $12M in federal investment for the state's apprenticeship expansion efforts, partnered with the Colorado Urban Workforce Alliance to launch the nationally recognized "Apprenticeship Hub", and consulted on the legislation and led the implementation of the State's Apprenticeship Agency.