Jessica Valand is the Director of Workforce and Economic Development at Results for America. Jess brings over 15 years of experience in workforce and economic development to RFA, having worked at both the local and state level, as well as internationally as a Community & Economic Development Volunteer with the Peace Corps. She has served as a senior state-level administrator for multiple workforce programs, including TANF, SNAP E&T and WIOA, and designed and implemented Colorado’s first-of-its-kind transitional jobs program, ReHire. Prior to joining RFA, Jess spent over 8 years with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, where she most recently served as the Director of Workforce Development for a 10-county region of the state. In that role, she administered the public workforce system through multiple offices and staff, and sat on the Board of Directors for the area’s Economic Development Administration regions. She recently spearheaded the successful implementation of a good jobs pilot program in partnership with the Aspen Institute and Pacific Community Ventures, and is a strong advocate for job quality as a key driver of successful workforce development strategy. A native of the Rocky Mountain west, she holds an undergraduate degree in political science, and a master’s degree in Development Economics from the University of Denver. Jess resides in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with her family.