The Board of Directors has announced that Kami Welch will become the next President and CEO of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, starting August 15, 2026. Welch has served as the Interim CEO and has extensive experience leading the Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce for the past 14 years.
Welch’s compensation for the role was not provided but the position’s annual salary in 2024 was $270,894, based on Form 990 data released by the Internal Revenue Service.
During her tenure at the chamber, Welch helped to double its membership and launched the $3 million initiative addressing key community issues such as talent, housing, childcare, and business competitiveness. She also played a crucial role in the Arvada Resiliency Taskforce, which has provided over $5 million in direct support to businesses.
The Board believes Welch’s approach of combining regional insights with local action aligns well with the goals of the Jefferson County EDC. The organization aims to better integrate its three verticals: economic development, the West Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Jeffco.
Welch will maintain a role at the Arvada Chamber until the end of 2026 to support the completion of the B.O.L.D. 2026 initiative and the transition to new leadership. Both boards collaborated on this transition, seeing the strength of the Arvada Chamber as beneficial for the county.
Regular updates will be shared in the coming months as strategic priorities develop. The Board expresses gratitude for the community’s investment in Jefferson County and encourages engagement with Welch as she steps into her new role.
Source: Letter from Kelly Dunkin, Jeffco EDC Board of Directors Chair
