Cher Haavind joined the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment in 2007 and currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Communications Officer for the 2000-person agency. Cher has nearly two decades of experience in public and media relations, strategic and crisis communications and government affairs. She has led public relations campaigns for government agencies and elected officials resulting in increased citizen engagement, policy advancement and enhanced media relations. In her current role, Cher oversees internal and external communications, public relations and strategic and performance planning for the agency, as well as operational oversight for four of the department’s regulatory divisions.

Under her leadership, CDLE received national recognition for award-winning public relations and design campaigns, increased employee engagement through digital communications strategies and created the agency’s first ongoing Congressional outreach effort.

Cher is past chair of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies’ Communications Committee, currently serves on the State Apprenticeship Council and is a current fellow in the Governor’s Executive Fellowship for State Leaders.