Meridith Marshall is the Director of Colorado's Rural Opportunity Office within the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade, where she leads statewide efforts to foster sustainable economic growth across Colorado's rural communities. She brings a unique blend of practitioner experience and strategic vision to the role, having worked extensively with local leaders, businesses, and government agencies to implement initiatives that drive meaningful impact. Most recently, she has led the development of Colorado's Nested CEDS Initiative, a first-of-its-kind framework coordinating 14 Economic Development Districts and 2 Tribal Nations into a unified, multi-jurisdiction approach to statewide economic development planning. Prior to joining the Rural Opportunity Office, Meridith served as CEO of UNCHARTED, where she partnered with organizations to create thriving, people-centered workplaces through data-driven insights and one-on-one coaching. Her time at UNCHARTED sharpened her focus on building environments that attract and retain talent, an essential component of rural economic development.
During her time at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Meridith led the rapid and record-setting deployment of federal disaster recovery funds following Hurricane Sandy. At the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), Meridith played a pivotal role in designing and implementing Colorado's statewide economic development strategy, Blueprint 2.0, partnering with leaders in all 14 regions to develop locally tailored plans for economic growth. Meridith supported major workforce initiatives including sector partnerships, the expansion of the Colorado apprenticeship model, and the NGA Policy Academy. She also implemented the "Healthy Economy, Healthy Colorado" strategic plan, collaborating with public and private sector partners to grow the state's health and wellness industry.
As the state's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Coordinator, she oversaw the planning and drawdown of billions of dollars of IIJA and IRA funding, working directly with the White House and federal partners to support Colorado communities. She was recognized with the 40 Under 40 award from the International Economic Development Council, received the Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award, and is a recipient of the German Marshall Memorial Fellowship. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Economics and a minor in Neuroscience from Drake University, and a Master's degree in Couples and Family Counseling/Therapy from the University of Colorado Denver.