STATE BILL COLORADO

Ellen Golombek, who worked for 14 years with the Service Employees International Union and Colorado AFL-CIO, is Democratic Gov.-Elect John Hickenlooper’s choice as head of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, succeeding Don Mares.

Golombek was elected the first woman president of the Colorado AFL-CIO in 2000 and led the successful lobbying and legislative efforts for the organization for 10 years.

Most recently, she is Colorado State Director for America Votes, a voter-rights organization.

The governor-elect’s press release follows:

Ellen Golombek named Executive Director of Department of Labor and Employment

DENVER ­— Monday, Jan. 3, 2011 — Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper announced today Ellen Golombek will be Executive Director of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Golombek is now Colorado State Director for America Votes, whose work around the country includes protecting every American’s right to vote. She brings nearly 20 years of additional experience working on labor issues and established relationships statewide to her new role in the Hickenlooper-Garcia administration.

“Ellen is a proven strategic thinker who has a collaborative work-style and extensive experience working with the labor and business communities,” Hickenlooper said. “Her work and the work of the Department of Labor and Employment will play a key role in our effort to support those looking for or creating jobs.”

Golombek worked for 14 years with the Service Employees International Union and Colorado AFL-CIO. She was elected the first woman president of the Colorado AFL-CIO in 2000 and led the successful lobbying and legislative efforts for the organization for 10 years.

“The Department of Labor and Employment is on the front line of job assistance and training, providing services to businesses and individuals,” Golombek said. “It is critical that our state’s workforce be trained and prepared for today’s jobs and the future economy. I look forward to working with Colorado employers and individuals to meet this challenge and help with other employment-related issues large and small.”

Before joining America Votes in Colorado, Golombek worked at Planned Parenthood as the National Political and Field Director in Washington, D.C., and as Vice President for External Affairs in New York. She earlier worked four years with the 1.8 million-member Service Employees International Union, where she served as the Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer and Director of Government Affairs. She managed a $65 million budget in that role.

Golombek earned a bachelor’s degree in labor studies from Antioch University.

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About the Department of Labor and Employment

The Department provides information to job seekers, employees, businesses, and employers alike on education/training, wage and employment laws, and Colorado labor statistics. Under the department’s executive director, CDLE operates through six divisions: Employment and Training, two branches of the Industrial Claims Appeals Office, Labor, Oil and Public Safety, and Worker’s Compensation.

About Partners for Colorado

Partners for Colorado is organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation created to engage a diverse group of people from all over Colorado; ensure a smooth hand-off from the Ritter administration to the Hickenlooper administration; review the current performance, challenges and opportunities of each major area of state government and develop recommendations for improving practices within these areas; provide recommendations to the incoming administration for specific executive and legislative actions that can be pursued during the administration’s first 100 days; and recruit and evaluate candidates.