Jessica Valand

Senior Workforce Advisor

Jessica Valand is a nationally recognized workforce-development and economic-mobility expert with more than 20 years of experience helping public agencies and their partners design, implement, and evaluate programs that improve economic outcomes. She is the founder and principal of Veikart Advising, a consulting practice that supports governments, nonprofits, and philanthropies in building outcome-oriented strategies grounded in high-quality data and evidence.

Jessica works across the US and in Colorado with state and local agencies, workforce systems, and cross-sector partners on policy design, program strategy, data use, and outcome-based performance—particularly in workforce development, postsecondary pathways, and economic-security programs. She is known for translating complex data and policy environments into clear, actionable decision-making frameworks, and has been an advisor to CEEMI since 2024.

Previously, Jessica held senior leadership roles at Results for America and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, leading national workforce initiatives supporting public agencies in scaling evidence-based practices and improving outcomes. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly 15 years in leadership roles in Colorado state government, including as a regional workforce director and the state administrator for public assistance work programs.

Jessica holds a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Denver. A returned Peace Corps Volunteer, she lives in Steamboat Springs with her family.