Fractional CHROs in Denver Making Things Happen in 2025

Denver Interim Chief People Officers to Know

Denver has always had an independent streak. As one of the fastest-growing innovation hubs in the country—with strong sectors in SaaS, clean tech, consumer products, and healthcare—Colorado companies are scaling quickly, hiring cross-functionally, and managing hybrid teams from Day One. What they’re not always doing? Hiring a full-time Chief People Officer.

That’s where fractional CHROs come in.

These are strategic HR operators who step into growth-stage orgs, investor-backed businesses, and operationally evolving teams to lead people strategy at the executive level. Without the wait. Without the bloat. Just high-trust execution when it matters most.

At Digital Reference, we’ve identified a standout set of Denver-based fractional people leaders doing exactly that.

Our Selection Process: Why These Leaders

Every CHRO featured here is:

✅ Actively based in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro
✅ Working in a fractional, interim, or embedded HR executive capacity
✅ Publicly accessible via LinkedIn or firm sites
✅ Experienced across growth stages, transformations, or post-transaction settings
✅ Known for delivering strategic HR, leadership alignment, and operational clarity

We source with reputation, not just keywords. And we only include operators with credible track records and trusted references.

Denver Fractional CHROs to Know

🔹 Dan Bonach

Fractional CHRO | Culture Architect | Talent Strategy Partner
Dan brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience to his fractional work, specializing in high-growth, mission-driven organizations. He supports founders and COOs who are ready to professionalize their people function without compromising culture. Dan’s leadership style is equal parts operational and empathetic—making him a trusted partner across executive teams.

🔍 Specialties: Scaling HR systems, leadership coaching, values-aligned culture
📍 Based in: Denver, CO

🔹 Katie Spadoro

Fractional Chief People Officer | Founder-Centric HR Leader
Katie is a Denver-based people executive who partners with fast-scaling companies to design and implement modern, inclusive, and performance-driven HR strategies. As a fractional CPO, she operates like an internal executive—with the strategic lens and flexibility to support companies exactly when they need it most. Her background spans tech, consulting, and growth-stage orgs.

🔍 Specialties: Performance management, DEI, org design, HR transformation
📍 Based in: Denver, CO

As Denver’s ecosystem continues to grow, expect more fractional HR talent to emerge—Digital Reference updates its regional lists regularly to keep up.

Why Denver Teams Are Going Fractional

The companies scaling in Denver are asking different questions:

• “How do we grow our team without breaking our culture?”
  
  
• “How can HR become a strategic partner, not just a compliance function?”
  
  
• “Do we need a full-time CPO… or just someone sharp for the next 9 months?”
  
  

Fractional CHROs are the answer for:

• 🚀 Startups going from 15 → 50 employees in one quarter
  
  
• 🧭 Founder/CEO teams needing people ops guidance
  
  
• 🔄 Post-acquisition culture integration
  
  
• 📈 PE- or VC-backed orgs under pressure to deliver talent outcomes
  
  
• 👥 Teams experiencing engagement dips or retention issues
  
  

In a city that values intentional leadership, fractional people partners are helping orgs grow on-purpose—not just at speed.

The Traits of a Great Fractional CHRO

The best fractional HR leaders don’t just drop in. They dig in. Here’s what we look for at Digital Reference:

✅ Strategic depth with operational range
✅ Founder fluency and board confidence
✅ Reputation you can vet
✅ A focus on what works now—not just long-term theory
✅ The ability to build trust fast across functions

Dan and Katie both bring that to their fractional roles—and Denver companies are better for it.

More from Digital Reference

If you're exploring interim HR leadership, check these resources:

📘 How to Hire a Fractional Executive
A practical guide for founders and operators navigating interim leadership.

📍 The Importance of Professional References
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.

📘 Collecting Professional References: The Dos and Don’ts
References are often the make-or-break element of your next opportunity. Yet many professionals still treat the reference process as an afterthought or, worse, scramble to collect them last minute.

📗 The Talent Ecosystem: Why Fractional Operators Are Reshaping the C-Suite
Explore the structural shifts behind the rise of fractional leadership and what it means for your next hire.

Final Word: Smart Companies Scale HR Strategy—Not Just Headcount

The companies succeeding in Denver aren’t just hiring fast—they’re hiring with intention. That includes flexible leadership models that adapt as the business does. Fractional CHROs offer that flexibility—with executive-level clarity and maturity.

Dan Bonach and Katie Spadoro are leading the way in Colorado. They’re not theorizing about culture. They’re building it—block by block, policy by policy, hire by hire.

If your team needs more than an HR generalist—but isn’t ready for a full-time CHRO—this is your blueprint.

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✅ Check Out Our Local Directories of Fractional CHROs & Interim Chief People Officers by City

This resource highlights city-specific guides to some of the most impactful interim and fractional Chief People Officers across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Each directory offers a look into the unique business culture of the region and the leaders driving people strategy forward.

• Atlanta
  Fractional CHROs in Atlanta Making Things Happen
  Atlanta’s talent leaders are shaping diverse, tech-forward workplaces in a city that’s become a magnet for startups, logistics firms, and entertainment enterprises. Fractional CHROs here are experts at managing rapid growth and culture change.

• Chicago
  Fractional CHROs in Chicago Making Things Happen
  In this powerhouse of industry and innovation, Chicago’s fractional CHROs help organizations scale intentionally—blending legacy systems with modern people practices in finance, healthcare, logistics, and tech.

• Columbus
  Fractional CHROs in Columbus Making Things Happen
  Columbus combines Midwestern values with high-growth potential, and its interim people leaders bring strategic clarity to fast-growing startups, educational institutions, and service-sector employers.

• Detroit
  Fractional CHROs in Detroit Making Things Happen
  In the heart of the Midwest’s manufacturing revival, Detroit’s people leaders are reinventing what workforce strategy looks like across automotive, tech, and nonprofit sectors.

• Houston
  Fractional CHROs in Houston Making Things Happen
  Energy, healthcare, and logistics dominate Houston’s economy, and the city’s CHROs are uniquely equipped to address complex compliance needs and workforce transformations.

• Indianapolis
  Fractional CHROs in Indianapolis Making Things Happen
  As Indianapolis grows into a regional tech and biotech hub, its interim HR leaders are guiding companies through strategic hiring, leadership development, and HR tech implementation.

• Jacksonville
  Fractional CHROs in Jacksonville Making Things Happen
  Jacksonville’s fractional CHROs serve fast-growing industries like finance, logistics, and healthcare—offering guidance on culture-building, operational scale, and remote workforce policy.

• Las Vegas
  Fractional CHROs in Las Vegas Making Things Happen
  Beyond hospitality, Vegas is growing its footprint in tech and healthcare—and its HR consultants are ushering in next-gen talent strategies in industries that rely on high performance and adaptability.

• Los Angeles
  Fractional CHROs in Los Angeles Making Things Happen
  In this entertainment and startup capital, LA’s CHROs specialize in hybrid teams, talent branding, and aligning creative and corporate cultures under fast-paced conditions.

• London
  Fractional CHROs in London Making Things Happen
  London’s fractional HR leaders support multinationals and scaleups across finance, fintech, and creative industries—navigating global labor trends and cross-border compliance with precision.

• Miami
  Fractional CHROs in Miami Making Things Happen
  Miami is a rising tech and finance hotspot with a diverse workforce—and its interim people leaders are fluent in multicultural management, bilingual team dynamics, and global HR systems.

• Naples
  Fractional CHROs in Naples Making Things Happen
  In Naples, fractional HR leaders help small to midsize companies and family-owned businesses build professionalized systems without compromising close-knit cultures.

• New York City
  Fractional CHROs in New York City Making Things Happen
  From Wall Street to SoHo startups, NYC’s fractional CHROs are masters of navigating complexity—balancing regulation, rapid scaling, and inclusive leadership in high-pressure industries.

• Orlando
  Fractional CHROs in Orlando Making Things Happen
  Tourism, healthcare, and education anchor Orlando’s economy—and its CHROs provide high-touch leadership solutions that prioritize retention, well-being, and frontline empowerment.

• Phoenix
  Fractional CHROs in Phoenix Making Things Happen
  Phoenix is booming in construction, healthcare, and tech—and local CHROs are helping businesses mature people operations while retaining agility in competitive labor markets.

• Raleigh
  Fractional CHROs in Raleigh Making Things Happen
  As part of the Research Triangle, Raleigh is home to biotech, education, and tech talent—and its HR leaders are supporting scaleups with science-backed people strategies.

• Salt Lake City
  Fractional CHROs in Salt Lake City Making Things Happen
  SLC combines entrepreneurial energy with deep-rooted values, and its fractional CHROs offer people solutions that honor both innovation and integrity.

• San Diego
  Fractional CHROs in San Diego Making Things Happen
  Life sciences, defense, and tourism converge in San Diego—where fractional CHROs are helping companies adapt to hybrid work and global growth strategies.

• Seattle
  Fractional CHROs in Seattle Making Things Happen
  Seattle’s HR experts are key players in navigating tech sector challenges—from layoffs to equity planning to scaling culture across global engineering teams.

• St. Louis
  Fractional CHROs in St. Louis Making Things Happen
  This Midwestern city is home to major employers in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing—and its fractional CHROs support operational resilience and inclusive workforce planning.

• Washington, DC
  Fractional CHROs in Washington DC Making Things Happen
  In the nation’s capital, people leaders serve nonprofits, associations, and purpose-driven orgs—providing strategic clarity and DEI leadership in highly regulated environments.