Wendy Lea is a leading expert in inclusive economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship. Recognized for work across industries and regions, Wendy creates vibrant startup innovation ecosystems that grow city, state, and regional economies.
At a national level, Wendy serves on the Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE) advisory board and as a member of the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE), helping develop strategies to strengthen America’s role as a global leader in emerging technologies.
In Colorado, Wendy serves on the Governor’s Revenue Estimation Revenue Estimating Advisory Committee (GREAC) and on the board of Elevate Quantum, accelerating advanced technologies in the state with funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Regional Innovation Hub (Tech Hub) program. A co-founder and Board Chair of Energize Colorado, she is dedicated to fostering a thriving small business ecosystem that promotes resilience and inclusivity for underserved entrepreneurs across the state.
Wendy has received numerous awards for her work and was recently named among the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2024 by Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. In 2023, she received a Women Who Light the Community Award from the Boulder Chamber of Commerce and an Outstanding Women in Business Award by Denver Business Journal for advancing innovative businesses in Colorado