The Markle Foundation
The Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps has supported nearly 90 career coaches across Colorado through three cohorts, establishing the first-in-the-nation model for investing in frontline professionals who connect jobseekers with careers in growing industries. HR&A developed and launched this program with Governor John Hickenlooper in October 2017, creating a replicable framework that has since inspired more than 20 governors nationwide to pledge implementation of similar initiatives.
Colorado’s low unemployment rate masked persistent struggles among underemployed and chronically unemployed residents, many lacking bachelor’s degrees and relying on career services at workforce centers and job placement providers. The state needed a systematic approach to strengthen the capacity of career coaches serving these populations. HR&A engaged state leaders, workforce center directors, and individual career coaches to understand strengths and challenges of the existing coaching system. We developed comprehensive program vision, curriculum, timeline, staffing plan, and budget for the Coaching Corps, then oversaw recruitment and selection of the first 25 participants.
A principal element of program design was conveying the value proposition of leadership development for career coaches, their supervisors, and the state. Following the October 2017 launch, HR&A supported execution of three retreats over eight months, providing program support and facilitating each event. The success of Skillful Colorado established a replicable model that has since been adapted in other states, demonstrating how strategic investment in coaching professionals can improve employment outcomes for underserved populations.
