Kelly Brough is the vice president of strategic partnerships for Colorado Mesa University. As a former chief of staff to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, head of human resources for the City of Denver, and CEO of the oldest and largest business advocacy organization in Colorado, she has built effective teams, managed large budgets, negotiated key contracts, influenced public policy and navigated the intersection of the public and private sectors. Kelly led the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce as its first female CEO from 2009 to 2021. During her tenure, she nearly doubled revenue for the organization, growing it from $17 million to $30 million annually. Kelly has also worked in the public sector as the Director of Human Resources for the City of Denver and Chief of Staff for Mayor John Hickenlooper. Kelly has an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver and a BS from Montana State University. In her free time, you can find Kelly outdoors — biking, hiking, skiing, or paddling.
