Lori Frazier Bearden

Lori Frazier Bearden is a military spouse and senior executive leader who holds policy expertise in economic and workforce development, human services, and education and training programs. Prior to serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor, Lori led the Office of Economic Development at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. overseeing $4.5 billion in congressional earmarks, funding over 4,000 projects nationwide.

As Deputy Commissioner at the Georgia Labor Department, she governed statewide operations in the 8th most populated state with an operational budget of $500 million for workforce and employment programs, overseeing 42 American Job Centers, 8 one-stop operators, and over 500 state employees.

She served as a Senior Policy Advisor to two state governors and the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. where she led a contracted team of 10 to stand up the WIOA regulation.

Earlier leadership posts include advising Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s Office of Education and Workforce Training and leading Economic Development policy efforts in Alabama Governor Robert Bentley’s administration.