Washington, D.C. –The National Skills Coalition (NSC) Board of Directors announced today the appointment of Brooke DeRenzis as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. DeRenzis has been with NSC for more than 11 years, most recently serving as Interim CEO, and previously as Chief Strategy Officer.
“National Skills Coalition’s mission to deliver prosperity to America’s diverse and ever-changing workforce hits close to home,” said Brooke DeRenzis, National Skills Coalition’s CEO.
“I’ve seen firsthand how federal workforce policy decisions ripple through local communities—both as an advocate in Washington, D.C., and as someone who grew up in a working-class city shaped by economic shifts. That’s why I’ve dedicated my career to advancing policies that invest in people. I’m honored to lead National Skills Coalition at this pivotal moment, as we work with our partners across the country to ensure every worker and every small business leader has a fair shot at success in a rapidly changing economy.”
With more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, policy advocacy, coalition-building, and research, DeRenzis brings a deep understanding of both the field and the organization. Her expertise spans a broad range of policy issues intended to expand economic opportunities so that working families can thrive, and how those issues intersect at the federal, state, and local levels.
Throughout her tenure at NSC, DeRenzis has led numerous strategic initiatives that have shaped the organization’s impact and direction. She led the creation of SkillSPAN, the first-ever network of 20 state skills coalitions, crafted numerous policy advocacy campaigns, established field-building academies and initiatives, and guided the development of NSC’s organization-wide racial equity approach. As Chief Strategy Officer, she oversaw the organization’s policy, advocacy, and coalition-building strategies, defined NSC’s point of view on key policy issues, and cultivated new high-impact partnerships, providing inclusive, forward-thinking leadership across the organization. Before joining NSC in 2014, DeRenzis served as Project Director at the DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, where she led advocacy efforts on a broad range of public policy challenges affecting working people and families in the District of Columbia. She has also held research roles at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program.
“Brooke brings deep policy expertise, a strong track record of coalition-building, and a steady, strategic approach to leadership,” said Dr. Girard Melancon, Board Chair of National Skills Coalition. “She has earned the trust of our partners across the country and the unanimous support of our board. We are confident that under her leadership, NSC will continue to advance bold, inclusive workforce policies that meet the moment and deliver lasting change for workers, businesses, and communities.”
DeRenzis’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for NSC and the workforce development field: while the economy’s future is top of mind for everyday people, and skills training enjoys strong public and bipartisan support, proposed cuts to federal and state programs threaten hard-won progress and put both workers and local businesses at risk. Now as much as ever, we need a national coalition committed to channeling the real experiences of students, workers, local businesses, and practitioners into a collective voice to change workforce policies and deliver shared prosperity.
Stakeholders across the workforce and philanthropic communities have expressed their support for DeRenzis’s appointment.
“Brooke brings both strategic insight and a deep understanding of what it takes to make workforce policy work in the real world,” said Portia Wu, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor. “Under her leadership, the National Skills Coalition is well-positioned to meet the challenges ahead and drive meaningful change.”
“Strong, inclusive workforce policy doesn’t happen by accident—it takes collaboration, vision, and persistence,” said Jessica Fulton, Senior Fellow at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. “Brooke brings all of that to her leadership at National Skills Coalition, along with a deep commitment to making sure working people are part of shaping the future of our economy.”
“Brooke leads with a powerful combination of strategic insight, deep expertise in coalition-building and a commitment to creating people-centered state and federal policy,” said Allison Gerber, vice president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Center for Economic Opportunity. “In the years we’ve worked together, I’ve been impressed by her ability to stay grounded in what matters most to workers, communities, and the organizations that serve them. Together, Brooke and the National Skills Coalition will continue to ensure that young people have the chance to learn and earn in today’s economy.”
NSC remains committed to advancing policies that invest in people and drive shared economic prosperity. Under DeRenzis’s leadership, the organization and its coalition partners will continue to build a stronger, fairer economy—one that works for every worker, every industry, and every community.
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