Our welcoming and experienced team are happy to help you find the resources, expertise, and connections you need to thrive in any Upstate Colorado community.

Richard Werner | President & CEO
rwerner@upstatecolorado.org
Rich has 16 years of experience in all facets of economic development having most recently joined Upstate in 2015 as President & CEO. Prior to Upstate Rich worked as VP at the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation where he was responsible for all attraction, retention and expansion activities. Rich has previously served as the Associate Director for the State of Colorado Small Business Development Centers for Former Governor Bill Owens and Bill Ritter. Prior to his appointment by the State, he acted as the Director of Marketing for the Boulder Technology Incubator (CTEK).
A New York native, he has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Communications from The American University in Washington DC. Rich enjoys trying to ski and golf but his favorite activities center around spending time with his bride of 15 years and three young children.

Audrey Herbison | Director of Economic Development
aherbison@upstatecolorado.org
Audrey is the Director of Economic Development for Upstate Colorado. Her daily activities include leveraging data and industry resources for prospect attraction and business expansion activities. Prior to joining Upstate, Audrey worked as the Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Greeley, with a primary focus on site selection, assisting businesses to traverse the expansion process, and preparing City development incentives.
Audrey attended the University of Northern Colorado, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. As a long-time Northern Colorado resident, Audrey enjoys the sunshine and being active with her dog Wiley.

Cassidy Stubblefield | Community Support Coordinator and Operations Manager
cstubblefield@upstatecolorado.org
Cassidy is responsible for operations management and community support. Prior to joining the Upstate team, she worked in the construction management and engineering industry gaining invaluable experience including office management, marketing, client relations, and team building. Cassidy values the opportunity to play a role in developing the community around her.
Cassidy graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and a minor in Business Administration. When she isn’t at work, you can find Cassidy spending time with her husband, friends, and cats, skiing, enjoying a podcast, and exploring all Northern Colorado has to offer.