Laura Giocomo Rizzo, current vice president of communications and marketing for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, has been named senior vice president of external affairs for the organization. The SVP of external affairs represents a combination of two previous leadership roles at the Chamber – VP of government affairs and VP of communications and marketing. Accordingly, in her new role Rizzo will oversee marketing, communications, government and public affairs and events for the Chamber. She assumes the role June 3.
“Laura is a proven leader at the Chamber, having played a key role in transforming our marketing and communications efforts here. Her deep understanding of public policy, paired with her strategic communications expertise will serve our members and team well, and we’re eager for her to apply her leadership to our government affairs team,” said Kelly Brough, president and CEO of the Chamber.
Rizzo has led marketing, communications and events for the Chamber for more than five years. During that time, she has managed internal and external communications, marketing and public relations for the Chamber, which represents 3,000 metro area businesses and their 300,000 employees. She has also managed the Chamber’s health care policy work and engaged in workforce development programming, community initiatives and policy on behalf of the Chamber.
Prior to her work at the Chamber, Rizzo worked in communications and marketing for then-Mayor John Hickenlooper, the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Centura Health and SE2, a Denver-based communications consulting firm specializing in public issues. As a senior associate at SE2, Rizzo worked at the intersection of communications and public policy for clients including the Colorado Hospital Association, Denver Public Schools and The Colorado Trust. Having worked as a communications assistant and the director of scheduling for then-Mayor Hickenlooper and in various roles for political campaigns across Colorado, Rizzo has a deep understanding of public policy and its impact on businesses and constituents in our state.
A Colorado native and graduate of the University of Denver, it’s no surprise that Rizzo is an avid downhill skier and golfer. She is currently on the board of Mile High Early Learning, Denver’s oldest and largest provider of subsidized quality early childhood care. She also is a member of the community advisory board of Presbyterian St. Luke’s and a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is a 2017 winner of the DBJ’s 40 under 40 award and alumna of Leadership Denver class of 2016.