DWD Leadership
Commissioner, Richard Paulk
DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk is a strategic leader with broad experience in finance, administration, operations, corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions. He has held leadership roles in companies spanning Fortune 30 publicly traded firms to startup companies, including a firm that focused on valuing health care services and entities, which he co-founded.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan before moving back to his original hometown of Chicago. Eventually, after spending six years in northern VA, Paulk and his wife, Nicole, moved to Indianapolis in 2021. The couple has two daughters.
Prior to joining DWD in early January 2023 as the agency's chief administrative officer, he worked as chief financial officer (CFO) for a community redevelopment nonprofit organization that provided employment opportunities for ex-offenders. Paulk also served as CFO of a $1 billion division of Sears, Roebuck and Company and a $150 million subsidiary of the Washington Post Company. Additionally, he was a one-time CFO of a closely held communications company; leading all finance and treasury activities along with federal regulatory compliance efforts while helping position the company for sale.
During his spare time, Paulk, an avid sports fan, enjoys exercising, biking, hiking, spending time with family, reading and learning new things.
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Chief Administrative Officer
Mike Smith
Chief Administrative Officer, Mike Smith
Mike Smith is the acting Chief Administrative Officer. He joined the Department of Workforce Development as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in April 2023. Prior to that time, he spent almost eight years serving as CFO with the State of Oregon Employment Department.
Smith is an experienced executive level leader with an extensive knowledge of state and Federal laws. His 10 years of previous state government experience also includes serving as CFO/Controller of the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange where he was instrumental in the awarding of a $226 million federal grant.
Prior to state government, Smith held various financial leadership positions in the private industry sector for more than 15 years, including work with David Evans and Associates, Inc., where he was responsible for the financial operations of 17 offices. Smith also worked briefly in the non-profit sector at Cru in Orlando where he coordinated the annual budget for U.S. operations.
The Indiana native was born in Beech Grove and is excited to be back in his home state where he can invest in and support Hoosiers. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Pensacola Christian College and a Master of Business Administration degree with an accounting concentration from Liberty University.
In recent times, Smith served as vice chair of the Administration and Finance Committee for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (2019-20 association year) and chair of that same committee in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 association years.
×General Counsel, Beth Green
As General Counsel for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Elizabeth Green leads DWD’s Legal Division in providing agency-wide legal advice and representation. Beth also served as the Ethics Officer for DWD from 2018 through 2023 and was the 2021 recipient of the Inspector General’s Award for Excellence. Prior to joining DWD, Beth spent 12 years in private practice at Riley Bennett Egloff LLP focusing on transactional work and commercial litigation.
Born and raised in eastern Canada, Beth received her B.A. in Psychology from Marshall University and graduated cum laude from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2005. Beth is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and Indianapolis Bar Association. In 2017, Beth was recognized as an Indianapolis Bar Foundation Distinguished Fellow and served on the IndyBar Professionalism Committee for several years. Beth is an active member of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies and currently serves on the Indiana Supreme Court’s Commission on Indiana’s Legal Future.
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Chief of Marketing & Communications
Lindsay Lindsey
Chief of Marketing & Communications, Lindsay Lindsey
Lindsay Lindsey serves as Chief of Marketing and Communications for Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Joining DWD in October of 2023, Lindsey leads DWD in its outreach efforts to inform Hoosiers across the state of the resources and opportunities available to help them achieve their workforce goals. Additionally, she continues to develop the DWD brand to ensure it’s one the State can trust.
Prior to state government, Lindsey’s decade of leadership in the automotive and aviation industries garnered her skill in driving brand visibility and engagement. She spearheaded growth for a media agency, scaling up different companies’ communication strategies towards customers and partners. As a founding team member at Mira Vista Aviation, Lindsey designed a unique brand that offered elite travelers a boutique experience in the skies. She also served as the head of branding for Park Place Motorsports turning a single car effort into a fan favorite team with customers and a driving school. Her varied roles allowed her to garner leadership experience and experience in public relations, marketing, social media, creative branding and more.
A native Hoosier, Lindsey attended Purdue University where she studied Communication Studies and Rhetoric. Shortly after graduating she moved to Los Angeles, California before moving to Dallas, Texas. She then returned to Indianapolis in 2021 where she focused on growing her own media and client services businesses before joining DWD to serve the state of Indiana.
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Chief Workforce Officer
Katie Rounds
Chief Workforce Officer, Katie Rounds
Katie Rounds was named the Department of Workforce Development’s (DWD) Chief Workforce Officer in April of 2023. In that role, she leads the creation of strategies to design and develop an agile workforce that is responsive to the changing needs of critical industries in Indiana.
Prior to her most recent appointment within the agency, Rounds, who was originally hired in 2019, lead initiatives to analyze complex business problems and issues as DWD’s Associate Chief Workforce Officer while developing organizational design strategy in furthering agency missions and goals.
Rounds has an extensive background in state government work. Before coming to DWD, she served as Innovative Project Delivery Director for the Indiana Department of Transportation and Deputy Chief of Staff with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) in addition to working as DCS Human Resources Director for the Indiana State Personnel Department.
The Hanover College graduate, who holds a law degree from the Indiana University Mauer School of Law, enjoys water-based activities, spending time with family and watching basketball and IndyCar racing in her spare time.
Rounds and her husband, a high school golf and basketball coach who also serves as an assistant principal and athletics’ director, have three children.
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