Michelle Dennard

President and CEO
Career Source Florida
Tallahassee, FL


Michelle Dennard is president and CEO of CareerSource Florida, Inc., the nonprofit, public-private policy and investment board of business and government leaders charged with guiding workforce development for the state of Florida.

Ms. Dennard joined the organization in November 2014 as Vice President of Policy. She provided workforce policy guidance to the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors and the Board’s Strategic Policy Council. Ms. Dennard led the development of Florida’s unified plan for implementing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the federal legislation that modernizes states’ workforce systems through a market-driven approach to better serve businesses, workers and job seekers. Through strong leadership and a collaborative spirit, she engaged workforce and education partners statewide to develop a plan that delivers customer-driven solutions for the 21st century and beyond.

An attorney and member of the Florida Bar, Ms. Dennard has more than 10 years of experience in workforce and economic development. Prior to joining CareerSource Florida, she served as the Director for the Division of Strategic Business Development at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, providing legal counsel and managing legislative affairs.

Ms. Dennard is a member of the Florida Chamber Foundation Board of Trustees, the Florida Higher Education Coordinating Council, the Florida Small Business Development Center Network State Advisory Board and an inaugural member of the Florida Student Success Center’s Advisory Board.

She lives in Tallahassee with her husband and son, is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Business and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Florida State University College of Law. "