MI2 Welcomes Aseia Colles, Project Coordinator

We’re excited to welcome Aseia Colles as one of the newest members of the MI2 team in the role of Project Coordinator. As MI2 continues to grow and expand its reach across Kentucky, Aseia will play a critical role in developing and managing current and future initiatives that support our industry partners and strengthen the state's metals ecosystem.

Aseia brings more than a decade of experience in higher education, with the last six years focused on apprenticeships and workforce development. Most recently, she served as Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Careers at Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville, Indiana, where she partnered with building trade unions and supported more than 1,300 apprentices in earning associate degrees alongside their skilled trade certifications.

Her passion for workforce development is deeply personal. “I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities that come from strong company partnerships—not just in my professional career, but in the lives of my family members who have found success in metals, manufacturing, and construction,” Aseia shared.

She is particularly excited to contribute to MI2’s mission of putting “Kentucky first” and to work alongside stakeholders across the state to create pathways that improve lives and support thriving industries. One of her top priorities is launching the MI2 bridge internship and apprenticeship program —an effort that will involve close collaboration with local K-14 education systems to build a workforce pipeline that attracts and prepares the next generation of skilled professionals.

Aseia holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Transylvania University and an MBA from Western Governors University. After ten years in Indiana, she and her husband are thrilled to be back in her hometown in Eastern Kentucky—just in time to make an impact on the state she’s always called home. Welcome, Aseia!