
Kelly Folks has over 28 years of experience developing programs designed to serve the most hard-to-reach populations, with 24 of those years dedicated to the Workforce Development System. She currently serves as the Interim Director for the Office of the Future of Work (OFW) and as the Director of the Employment and Training Division at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, overseeing state and federal workforce programs. Her division administers and delivers services that connect job seekers, including youth, unemployed and underemployed individuals, special populations, veterans, and incumbent workers, and in partnership with businesses and industries in need of a skilled talent and workforce. Previously, Kelly was the Director of the Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Board-Center. She is recognized as a leader at local, regional, state, and national levels in developing human capital and driving economic vitality. She has represented Colorado in technical assistance efforts for system-building and change across multiple states and local communities. Kelly serves on the Executive Board of the Rocky Mountain Workforce Development Association (RMWDA), is a board member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) and is the Vice Chair of the Employment & Training Committee for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). She also actively participates in multiple post-secondary councils and local boards. Before her work in workforce development, Kelly spent five years in the nonprofit sector, focusing on local community development initiatives. A native Coloradan, she is a graduate of Metropolitan State University.