CWEE Announces New Chief Executive Officer

Following a nationwide search, the Center for Work Education and Employment (CWEE) is happy to announce that we have hired a new CEO.  Katy Hamilton, an experienced national leader in workforce development and anti-poverty strategies, will join CWEE as CEO in early November.

Katy comes to CWEE from the Markle Foundation in New York, which serves as a national thought leader in developing solutions to address the ways automation and technology are shaping America’s labor market, particularly for under-employed and low-income populations.

“When it comes to expanding opportunities in the labor market for historically disadvantaged individuals and communities, Katy is one of the nation’s sharpest thinkers,” said Susan Hill, chair of CWEE’s board of directors. “Her successful track record in both workforce program leadership and policy makes Katy the ideal person to lead CWEE through the next chapter of our growth.”

Katy’s career began as a legislative liaison and later, director of policy, for then Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. Katy then relocated from her native Kansas to New York, where she joined the Partnership for New York City, a renowned organization that brings together government, business and nonprofit stakeholders to support economic advancement for the city’s residents.

Katy joined the Markle Foundation in 2015 and began traveling to Colorado weekly to establish the Skillful initiative, which seeks to mitigate the barrier of traditional four-year university education by promoting a skills-based labor market. Katy designed and implemented the Skillful Career Coaching program, which resulted in the launch of the Governor’s Coaching Corps with Governor John Hickenlooper. The Corps sharpens the skills of career coaches who work in schools and universities, government workforce centers and nonprofit organizations.

“CWEE’s reputation for successfully supporting families through transitions out of poverty and into training and employment is exemplary,” said Katy. “As the labor market evolves and demand for skills changes rapidly, there are limitless opportunities for CWEE to deepen existing work, expand program offerings, and develop new partnerships. I am excited to join the team, get to know the staff and participants, and together consider the future, which is very bright.”

Katy and her family will relocate to Denver next month. In her new role as CWEE’s CEO, Katy looks forward to continuing her work with the committed community leaders whom she has gotten to know over the past few years.

Once Katy is on board later this fall, CWEE will host a community celebration to introduce Katy to CWEE’s participants, partners and supporters.

“We are delighted to welcome Katy to CWEE, and we look forward to an impactful next phase of the organization’s growth. The quality and demand for our programs has never been greater, and we have an incredible team of talented, committed professionals,” said Susan Hill. “On behalf of the CWEE board of directors, thank you for your support throughout the leadership transition.”