Naquetta Ricks

Rep. Naquetta Ricks is the Colorado State Representative for House District 40 and the first Liberian-American to be elected to a US State Assembly. She is the co-founder and President of the African Chamber of Commerce of Colorado, USA and the founder of the African Economic Development Center (AEDC).

In 1980, Representative Ricks fled a bloody military coup with her mother and sister and settled in Aurora, Colorado. She knew the value of education when she arrived in America and worked hard to achieve her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She also received her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. She is a graduate of Leadership Denver and Leadership Aurora.

Representative Ricks has been recognized by the Colorado Black Round Table, the historic National Council of Negro Women, and the Colorado Black Educators Association receiving various accolades including the "Salute Award." 

Representative Ricks is fighting for policies that expand the quality of life for Colorado residents by expanding apprenticeships, continued access to education, and affordable housing. Her goals are to grow businesses, make healthcare more equitable, and be a voice for the marginalized.

She is also serves as the Chair for the Business Affairs & Labor Committee and a member of the State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee. When she is not doing legislative work, Representative Ricks is running her successful mortgage brokerage business.