Sector Partnerships

Sector partnerships are partnerships of business leaders, from the same industry and in a shared labor market region, who work with education, workforce development, economic development, and community organizations to address the workforce and other competitiveness needs of their industry.

Colorado has been launching and growing sector partnerships since 2005 through a framework that fosters industry-driven alignment across economic development, workforce development, and education.

View the High Performing Sector Partnership Framework.

The state has invested in regional, public-private partnerships targeting key industries that are vital to our regional economies. There are currently sector partnerships in 12 regions and in diverse industries such as retail, healthcare, education, tech, and more. Connect with a sector partnership in your region or industry using the directory below. 

Sector Partnership Directory 

More than 750 businesses are actively involved in sector partnerships across Colorado. View current Sector Partnerships by region below. 
 

Region 1

Northeast Colorado Manufacturers
Contact Us: NoCoMfg@gmail.com
Web: 
Industry Focus: Manufacturing
Business Chair(s):

• Barry Walter, Barry E. Walter Sr. Co.
• Erik Tribelhorn, Agri-Inject
• Rob Nichols, Nichols Tillage Tools
• Kelvin Harless, Signal Graphics

Convener(s):

• Trisha Herman, Phillips County Economic Development Corporation
• Karen Ramey-Torres, Northeast Regional Engagement Center
• Josh Gibbs, Eastern Sub-Area Workforce Development Board
• Ron Albo, Brush School District
• Elinor Brown, Morgan Community College
• Trae Miller, Logan County Economic Development Corporation
• Jamie Giacomini, Northeastern Junior College
• Jason Hazlett, Northeastern Junior College
• Stan Bills, Northeast Colorado Manufacturers

Region 2

Northern Colorado Health Sector Partnership
Contact Us: NocoHealthSector@gmail.com
Web: nocohealthsector.org
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Angela Richard, Banner Health Corporate
• Evan Hyatt, Care Synergy
• Anna Von Dreele, Columbine Health Systems 
• Jonas McKinley, UCHealth
• Carol Salter, Banner Health

Convener(s):

• JoAnn Herkenhoff, Northern Colorado Health Sector Partnership
• Yvonne Myers, Columbine Health Systems
   

Northern Colorado Manufacturing​ Sector Partnership
Contact Us: NoCoMfg@gmail.com
Web: www.nocomfg.com
Industry Focus: Manufacturing
Business Chair(s):

• Heidi Hostetter, Faustson
• Mina Cox, Specialty Products Company
• Diana Precht, Vergent Products
• Amy Macnaughton, Woodward
• Jonathan Hall, Frontier Metal Stamping
• Sylvia Robinson, Tolmar, Inc.
• Andy Newcomb, Precision Machined Products
• Jake Precup, Klinger IGI
• Sylvia Robinson, Tolmar, Inc.
• Andy Newcomb, Precision Machined Products 
• Doug Rhoda, Vectis Automation 
• Cory Harris, Vestas Wind Systems
• Dave Carlson, J & B Machine
• Larry Caschette, Metalcraft Industries, Inc.
• Seth Leinbach, In-Position Technologies 

Additional board members (non-voting)

• Jessica Erickson, Longmont Economic Development Partnership
• Matthew Wiggins, St. Vrain Valley School District 
• Sandra Jackam, Larimer County Economic & Workforce Development 

Region 3

Aerospace/Aviation Sector Partnership
Industry Focus: Aerospace
Business Chair(s):

• Zach Pfeffer, Centennial Software Solutions
• Stevan Richards, Ball Aerospace

Convener(s):

• Stephanie Mufic, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
• Cindy Nowak, Manufacturers Edge
• Marcia McGilley, Aurora South Metro Small Business Development Center
   

Boulder County Healthcare Sector Group
Contact Us: corine.waldau@boulderchamber.com
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Julia Nelson, Boulder Medical Center
• Sid Springer, HomeCare of the Rockies

Convener(s):

• Corine Waldau, Boulder Chamber
• Erin Jones, Workforce Boulder County
   

Colorado Media Journalism
Contact Us: tony@openmediafoundation.org
Industry Focus: Media and Communications
Business Chair(s):

• Diamond Hardiman, Free Press
• Laura Frank, Colorado News Collaborative
• Tim-Reagan Porter, Colorado Press Association

Convener(s):

• Tony Shawcross, Open Media Foundation
• Ammiee Brown, AmeriCorps VISTA
   

Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership
Contact Us: CoTreeCarePartnership@gmail.com
Industry Focus: Energy & Natural Resources
Business Chair(s):

• Adrian Camacho, City of Aurora - Forestry
• Joshua Morin, Taddiken Tree Company

Convener(s):

• Amanda Miller, The Place Setting Company
• Nikki Lucas, The Place Setting Company
   

Denver Metro Construction Sector Partnership
Contact Us: james.roina@denvergov.org
Industry Focus: Infrastructure Engineering
Business Chair(s):

• Sarah VandeLaar, Hensel Phelps Construction Co
• Joel Pennick, JE Dunn Construction Group Inc

Convener(s):

• James Roina, Denver Workforce Services
   

Freight Industry Sector Partnership
Industry Focus: Transportation & Logistics
Convener(s):

• Michelle Scheuerman, Colorado Department of Transportation
• Kathleen Collins, Colorado Department of Transportation
   

Greater Metro Denver Healthcare Partnership 
Contact Us: Shannon.Jahn@denvergov.org
Web: healthcaredenver.com
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Jillyn Fowler, HCA Healthcare
• Amelia Morton, Colavria Hospitality
• Kay Cowling, Cowling Advisory Services

Convener(s):

• Kenneth Arellano, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
• Judy Emery, Colorado Urban Workforce Alliance
• Brenda Garrett, Colorado Visiting Nurse Association
• Shannon Jahn, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity
• Noelle Glasaser, Adams County
   

​​​Metro Denver Retail Sector Partnership
Contact Us: shonta.trotman@denvergov.org
Web: MetroDenverRetail.cosectors.com
Industry Focus: Retail, Hospitality, Food & Beverage
Business Chair(s):

• Tina Louise Castro, Concessions International

Convener(s):

• Yohannes Mengistu, Denver OED
• Dana Williams, Denver Workforce Services
• Shonta Trotman, Denver OED
   

Metro Manufacturing Partnership
Industry Focus: Manufacturing
Convener(s):

• Leigh Seeger, Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation
• Sheri Bryant, Jeffco Public Schools
• Sumer Sorensen-Bain, Manufacturers Edge
• Melissa English, CDLE
   

Tech Talent Boulder/Broomfield 
Contact Us: boulderbroomfieldtech@boulderchamber.com
Web: TechTalentBoulder.cosectors.com
Industry Focus: IT
Business Chair(s):

• Chris Magyar, Techtonic

Convener(s):

• Corine Waldau, Boulder Chamber
• Erin Jones, Workforce Boulder County
   

Tech Talent Denver
Contact Us: Shannon.Jahn@denvergov.org
Web: TechTalentDenver.cosectors.com
Industry Focus: IT
Business Chair(s):

• Michael Simpson, Pairin
• Sarah Herzog, Ardent Mills

Convener(s):

• Shannon Jahn, Denver Economic Development and Opportunity
• Jamie Fisher, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
• Mike Aman, Jefferson County Human Services
• Matt Wendel, Colorado Technology Association

Region 4

Colorado Springs Healthcare Sector Partnership
Contact Us: tamara.moore@relevelllc.com
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Edina Hanes, UCHealth
• Lynette Crow-Iverson, Conspire

Convener(s):

• Tamara Moore, Pikes Peak Workforce Center
   

Pikes Peak Regional Retail and Hospitality Sector Partnership

Contact Us: tamara.moore@relevelllc.com
Web: www.pikespeakrh.com
Industry Focus: Retail, Hospitality, Food & Beverage
Business Chair(s): 

• Jeff Howell, The Lodge at Flying Horse 

Convener:

• Tamara Moore, Pikes Peak Workforce Center

Region 5

Region 5 Health Enrichment Partners
Contact Us: david.griffin@state.co.us
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• McKensi Stone, Lincoln Community Hospital

Convener(s):

• David Griffin, Eastern Sub-Area Workforce Development Board

Region 6

No active partnerships at this time. If you are interested in exploring launching one in this region, contact the CWDC at cwdc@state.co.us.

Region 7

Southern Colorado Healthcare Sector Partnership
Contact Us: lindas.johnson@state.co.us
Web: SocoHealth.cosectors.com
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Cara Dasher, Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo
• Joe'l DeYoung, Parkview Medical Center
• Lucy Bloesser, The Center at Park West

Convener(s):

• Mary Chavez, Pueblo Community College
• Ruth DePalma, Colorado State University at Pueblo
• Ginger Andenucio, Pueblo County School District 70
• Robyn Trinajstick, Pueblo Workforce Center
   

Southern Colorado Manufacturing Partnership​​
Contact Us: amanda.corum@pueblocc.edu
Industry Focus: Advanced Manufacturing
Business Chair(s):

• Victoria Krage, Krage Manufacturing
• Fran Alexander, Vestas

Convener(s):

• Amanda Corum, Pueblo Community College
• Diana Esquibel, Pueblo Workforce Center
• Robyn Trinajstick, Pueblo Workforce Center

Region 8

San Luis Valley Healthcare Partnership
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Debi Tringham, Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc.
• Bonnie Ortega, San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group

Convener(s):

• Kathy Woods, City of Alamosa
   

Value-Added Ag Sector Partnership
Contact Us: zenabuser@adams.edu
Industry Focus: Food and Agriculture

Convener(s):

• Zena Buser, Adams State University
• Kathy Woods, City of Alamosa

Region 9

Southwest Colorado Healthcare Sector Partnership Alliance
Contact Us: kate.hartzell@swcahec.org
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Stephanie Clements, Mercy Regional Medical Center

Convener(s):

• Kate Hartzell, Southwestern Colorado AHEC
• Andy Burns, Durango School District 9-R 

Region 10

No active partnerships at this time. If you are interested in exploring launching one in this region, contact the CWDC at cwdc@state.co.us.

Region 11

Mesa County Manufacturing Sector Partnership
Contact Us: curtis.englehart@mesacounty.us
Industry Focus: Manufacturing
Business Chair(s):

• Alma Seculich, Innovative Textiles

Convener(s):

• Curtis Englehart, Mesa County Workforce Center
• CJ Rhyne, Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce
• Diane Schwenke, Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce

Region 12

No active partnerships at this time. If you are interested in exploring launching one in this region, contact the CWDC at cwdc@state.co.us.

Region 13

Region 13 Tourism & Outdoor Recreation/Retail Sector Partnership
Contact Us: armstrong@fedc.co
Industry Focus: Tourism
Business Chair(s):

• Jeremy Boswell, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

Convener(s):

• Diana Armstrong, Fremont Economic Development Corporation
   

South Central Tech Sector Partnership
Contact Us: erstevens@canoncity.org, brad@fremontedc.com
Web: techstart.fremontedc.com
Industry Focus: Technology & Information
Business Chair(s):

• Brad Rowland, FSLogix/TechStarts

​​​Convener(s):

• Jason Veatch, Veatch Consulting
• Diana Armstrong, Fremont Economic Development Corporation
• Chris Koehn, Second-61 LLC
   

Upper Arkansas Early Childhood Sector Partnership
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Dorothy Day, ECHO & Family Center Early Childhood Council
• Pam Walker, ECHO & Family Center Early Childhood Council

Convener(s):

• Andrew Dalton, Colorado Rural Workforce Consortium
   

Upper Arkansas Healthcare Sector Partnership
Contact Us: ccEconDevC@gmail.com
Industry Focus: Health & Wellness
Business Chair(s):

• Jon Fritz, Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center

Convener(s):

• Wendell Pryor, Chaffee County Economic Development
• Brian Turner, Solvista Health
• Becky Romano, Fremont Economic Development Corporation
• Diana Armstrong, Fremont Economic Development Corporation

Region 14

Spanish Peaks Retail Sector Partnership
Contact Us: bharris@huerfano.org 
Industry Focus: Retail, Hospitality, Food & Beverage
Business Chair(s):

• Sarah Jardis, Spanish Peaks Guest House

Convener(s):

• Bailee Harris, Spanish Peaks Business Alliance