Staff

J. J. Ament is the Chief Executive Officer of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, the largest privately funded and governed economic development organization in Colorado. With experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, J. J. brings a unique combination of expertise to the role. An investment banker for most of his career, he participated in more than $15 billion of transactions for governments and public-private partnerships throughout the U.S. before leaving the industry in 2016.  J. J. has been a member and Chairman of the Colorado Economic Development Commission, where he considered state economic development incentives, grants, and tax credits for business and tourism projects statewide.  As CEO, J. J. is responsible for leading the Metro Denver EDC’s mission to grow and retain primary jobs and promote capital investment in Colorado.  In the last two years, the Metro Denver EDC has helped facilitate the creation of nearly 14,000 new jobs and nearly $800 million of capital investment in the nine-county Metro Denver and Northern Colorado region.

Amy Guttmann is a creative director, brand storyteller and strategic communications expert with nearly 20 years of experience leading integrated campaigns. Since 2019, she’s directed marketing and branding initiatives for the Metro Denver EDC – playing a pivotal role in both developing our strategic foundation and guiding our day-to-day promotions of the region. Amy spent the bulk of her career at SE2, a Denver-based consultancy specializing in public and social issues. While there, she built the agency’s creative department from the ground up, serving a distinguished list of nonprofits, government organizations, advocacy groups and corporate clients. Her experience includes everything from brand strategy to large-scale advertising and behavior change campaigns, to audience segmentation and targeted messaging efforts, to a global diversity and inclusion initiative for a Fortune 100 company. A lifelong Coloradan, Amy has committed her career to making our state even better. Whether that's through one of many creative campaigns, her role as president of Ad Club Colorado or her recent participation in the esteemed Leadership Denver program, she strives to be an active part of what makes our community the best place to live and work in the country. 

Vicky joined the Metro Denver EDC in March 2009. She supports the region’s aviation and aerospace industries, and manages the Colorado Space Coalition and the Metro Denver Aviation Coalition. Vicky was previously Aerospace Industry Coordinator with the Metro Denver WIRED Initiative, a U.S. Department of Labor grant to increase the pipeline of workers to the region’s targeted growth industries. Vicky previously worked for UK Trade and Investment at the British Consulate in Denver, where she helped Colorado companies expand business operations into the United Kingdom, and assisted British companies conducting business in Colorado. Vicky also worked to build education and non-profit partnerships for international social economic development programs. Originally from the UK, Vicky received her Master’s degree in Development Studies from Manchester University.

Chelsea joined the Metro Denver EDC in January 2016 after two years in the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Public Affairs department. She works on business recruitment, retention, and expansion efforts in the Metro Denver region, as well as managing the EDC's operating budget and special events. Chelsea brings with her experience from the Colorado Innovation Network, a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys reading, yoga, and exploring Denver's restaurant scene with her husband Cody.

Zach Katz joined the Metro Denver EDC in August 2019, as the Graphic Design and Content Manager. He supports the organization’s brand development and national marketing efforts. Beyond promoting Metro Denver, he also works to market the region’s nine key industry clusters. Zach graduated from Parsons School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Daryl joined the Metro Denver EDC in January 2016. As executive assistant to the CEO, she provides support to the executive team by managing schedules and coordinating meetings, as well as assisting the Metro Denver EDC staff with events and special projects. Prior to her role with the Metro Denver EDC, Daryl worked as the office services coordinator for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. Previously an Iowa resident, Daryl has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing from Drake University. She enjoys puzzles, fiction, and Denver’s performance arts scene.