Nicolee Ambrose serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF).  She is a political and policy strategist, labor policy guru, and financial expert.

Before joining IWF, Nicolee was vice president of both a labor and employment law firm, as well as a Fortune 500 membership association – the HR Policy Association.  From 2002 through 2008, Nicolee served as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment Standards Administration (DOL).  She handled management issues relating to financial management, human resources, and oversight of programs for DOL’s largest agency.  Key policy and regulatory issues handled include the Family and Medical Leave Act, labor union oversight, and federal minimum wage.  Prior to her appointment to the Department of Labor, she was an award-winning financial advisor for American Express.  As a financial advisor, she won the 2000 Top Achiever of the Year award and the 1999 American Express Mercury Award.

On the national political scene, prior to joining IWF, Nicolee served as coalition director of Future Leaders for McCain, a coalition for young professionals.  Nicolee was also named one of the nation’s top “Rising Stars” by the Republican National Committee, along with Governor Matt Blunt of Missouri and Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. 

Nicolee served as Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation from 2005 – 2007.  In honor of her extremely successful term rejuvenating the nation’s oldest youth political organization, Nicolee was voted chairman emeritus of the Young Republicans in 2007.  As chairman, Nicolee created and implemented a winning 2006 targeted state program, re-branded the organization, and successfully harnessed the 100,000 member network of the Young Republicans.  From 2000 through 2005, Nicolee served as a Baltimore City Commissioner for Architectural and Historical Preservation.  She has also served as a board member of the American Council for Young Political Leaders.

Nicolee has appeared on FOX News, BBC Television News, BBC World Radio News, and ABC News.

Nicolee simultaneously attended The Johns Hopkins University, where she received a B.A. in International Relations, and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she received a B.M. in vocal performance. The Baltimore Sun called Nicolee the most inspiring 1996 graduate of Johns Hopkins.  She then earned a master of music at Arizona State University. In 1998, she accepted the Best Opera award from the National Opera Association for her lead role as Hansel in Hansel und Gretel.  Nicolee lives in Baltimore with her family.