Pikes Peak Workforce Center Leadership
Traci Marques Executive Director/CEO
Traci Marques is the Executive Director/CEO of the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, the American Job Center serving El Paso and Teller counties. In this capacity, she leads the Workforce Center in its mission to connect vital businesses with work-ready job seekers and employer-driven services.
She provides leadership, direction and oversight and is responsible for long-range planning, development, direction, implementation and evaluation of programs supporting regional workforce development. She previously served as Deputy Director and prior to that served as Customer Service and Community Outreach Director, and as the Business Relations Group Team Lead. She serves as co-chair of the Military, Veterans and Spouses Coalition representing more than 40 community organizations with resources focused on helping transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment.
For these efforts, Traci has been recognized for excellence by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment for contributions to improvement and modernization of veteran’s services.
Traci has completed The Grantsmanship Center’s Basic Grantsmanship and Social Enterprise Courses, the Center for Creative Leadership’s Community Leadership Program, and the Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications Management from Indiana University, Bloomington, College of Arts and Sciences.
Becca Tonn
Communications & PR Manager
Becca Tonn has been the Communications & Public Relations Manager at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center since 2017, with 20 years of experience in communications and public relations.
At the Workforce Center, she leads a cross-functional team and directs content production for the organization’s website, social media, newsletters, radio commercials, TV and print interviews, public information materials, and executive communications. She is also responsible for video production and internal and external communications.
An enthusiastic communicator and editor, Becca has edited numerous full-length manuscripts and trained a variety of professionals for media interviews, including elected officials, County Commissioners, political candidates, Department Chiefs, CEOs, and Executive Directors. She has served as an agency spokesperson and public information officer for municipalities, government agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, and multi-billion-dollar businesses.
Becca holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Since 2010, she has served on the Business Department Advisory Board of Pikes Peak State College and became Chair of the Board in 2020. A 2021 graduate of the Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program, she also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the UCCS Karen Possehl Wayfinder Endowment (KPWE) scholarship program, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC.
Daniel Garcia
Quality Assurance Manager
Daniel Garcia leads quality assurance efforts at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC), where he oversees compliance activities, audit readiness, process reviews, and PPWFC’s ADA and Equal Opportunity functions. He works with departments across the organization to support consistent practices and identify opportunities to improve how services are delivered.
He brings more than a decade of experience in workforce development, including direct service, program management, and team leadership. Before joining PPWFC, Daniel managed Mi Casa Resource Center’s career development department, where he led career counseling and employment support services to individuals facing barriers to work.
Daniel earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Central Oklahoma. He also holds the Certified Workforce Development Professional credential from the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.
He values collaboration, clear communication, and careful review. His work helps PPWFC maintain consistent practices and meet quality and compliance expectations across programs.
Erica Romero
Business Relations Manager
Erica Romero is the Business Relations Manager at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, providing leadership, direction and oversight for her staff and our employer-driven services. She brings over 15 years of management and customer service experience with national retailers to our Business Relations Group, and she has her Colorado Business Service Certification through the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment.
Erica has helped hundreds of employees in our region with her Rapid Response services for businesses that have to conduct layoffs and furloughs; she has educated them about healthcare options, unemployment insurance options, retirement and life insurance, and workforce services, to help them as they transition from one job to another.
She has been a speaker at dozens of roundtables during the pandemic to help hundreds of business owners and managers understand the nuances of furloughs vs. layoffs and many other business resources they could access during this unprecedented time.
In addition, she has been one of the most instrumental people in this region to work on developing several Sector Partnerships (which connect local industry with education to solve common workforce issues), including Pikes Peak Regional Healthcare Sector Partnership; Southern Colorado Manufacturing Sector Partnership; Pikes Peak Regional Retail & Hospitality Sector Partnership; and these emerging entities: Automotive Sector Partnership, and Department of Defense Sector Partnership.
A Colorado Springs local, Erica is passionate about helping businesses connect with local workforce talent to create growth and development through connecting services and resources to train, hire, and retain a qualified workforce. In June 2022, she graduated from the Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program, and in September 2022 she was named a finalist for the Mayor’s Young Leader Award.
Samuel Escalona
Operations Manager
Samuel Escalona serves as the Operations Manager at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC), where he oversees the customer service team and manages information technology, facilities, and security. He is responsible for key workplace functions that support staff and help maintain a safe, effective, and welcoming environment.
He brings experience in customer service leadership, workflow improvement, and team development across hospitality, telecommunications, and logistics. His work focuses on the day-to-day conditions that shape the customer experience, from front desk support to the systems and spaces staff rely on to serve the community.
Samuel holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Redlands in California. His background informs his approach to planning, decision-making, and evaluating business needs.
He values servant leadership, teamwork, and reliability. In his role, he ensures that staff have the support, tools, and workplace resources needed to serve the public well.
Toya Graham
Workforce Programs Manager
Toya Graham, Ed. D, CWDP, serves as the Workforce Programs Manager at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, where she provides guidance of regulations, practice, theories, policies, standards, and protocols for applicable programs. Toya cultivates relationships with community employers and partners, solicits employment opportunities, encourages use of the organization’s services and programs, and reinforces the organization’s position as a premier workforce training and development operation.
She also works with Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center as a liaison for the Veteran’s Service-to-Career Program (VSCP) to assist veteran participants in finding meaningful, sustainable wages, work-based learning and/or employment opportunities, while addressing barriers they may have to sustainment of employment and quality of life.
In addition, Toya has presented best practices of being a Job Coach at national conferences during the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Youth Symposium in 2017, and the Rocky Mountain Workforce Development Association RMWDA Conference in 2018.
Toya holds a Doctorate in Education from University of Phoenix. Her Master’s degree is in Child and Family Development, and she has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Texas Southern University. Toya has more than 16 years of experience in education and 15 years as a social worker, bringing passion and dedication while leading her department and providing oversight of our Workforce Programs.
