Penny May is currently the Chief Commercial Office at Denver International Airport.  She joined the airport as its new Deputy Chief of Staff in December 2018.  Penny’s portfolio includes the Concession program, Procurement and Business Operations, Business Technology and Airline Affairs and Air Service Development.

Prior to joining DEN, she served as one of two Deputy Chiefs of Staff for Mayor Hancock, a position she held since 2015. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Penny’s work was focused on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of city agencies as well as assisting in the implementation of administration policies and priorities. In this role, Penny also oversaw key citywide strategic initiatives.

Prior to joining the Mayor’s senior administration, Penny served as Executive Director of Denver Human Services which oversees delivery of assistance, protection, and prevention services to Denver’s most vulnerable residents. There, Penny refocused the department’s efforts to concentrate on service delivery and continuous process improvement. Her career with the City and County of Denver includes serving in the administration of three Mayors and in positions including legislative analyst for City Council, senior analyst for then-Councilman Doug Linkhart and then joining the Hickenlooper Administration as deputy city council liaison. Penny also served as director of Excise and Licenses, Deputy Manager of Human Services, interim Chief of Staff to Mayor Hancock and as the Interim Executive Director of the General Services department.  

Penny holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Denver. Always versatile, Penny is also a graduate of the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science.