Prior to her role at the department, Holmes was the president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, an organization that has been fostering a prosperous economy in Albany since 1910. Under her leadership, the Chamber achieved Five-Star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber, placing it among the top 2 percent nationally. Holmes also served as CEO of the Albany Area Chamber Foundation, driving talent, economic, entrepreneurial and innovation initiatives that extend beyond the business community's usual reach. Her leadership helped solve businesses' biggest challenges, informed smart policy and partnered with employers and educators to build a modern, globally competitive workforce. Before joining the Chamber, Holmes was also vice president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission (EDC).

Holmes' extensive experience includes appointments by former Gov. Nathan Deal to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, which oversees Georgia's 26 public colleges and universities, and by former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan as co-chair of the Georgia Innovates Task Force, which helped design the state's technology blueprint. Her contributions have been recognized with a Congressional Commendation from U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and multiple accolades from the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Trend.

A former journalist, Holmes has earned awards for excellence in journalism from the Georgia Associated Press. She holds degrees in journalism and Spanish from Florida Southern College and studied at Estudio Sampere Internacional in Spain. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Holmes resides in Albany with her husband, David, and their daughter.

Georgia Department of Labor