School Board Member Colleen Abate

Colleen Abate works as a financial advisor for Somnio Capital Solutions, an Ameriprise franchise. Prior to that, she worked as a financial advisor with ARGI Financial Group and as an Economic Development Manager for Louisville Metro Government. She previously served as a State Department Foreign Service Officer. She worked at the U.S. Embassies in Mexico City and Beijing. In Washington, she served in the State Department’s Office of Korean Affairs and on a detail assignment at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. She has also worked as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton and Accenture. Colleen studied for a year at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and obtained a B.S. in international affairs from Georgetown University. She speaks Spanish and has studied French and Chinese. She currently serves as Vice Board Chair of the Anchorage Independent School District and as a board member of the Kentuckiana Girl Scout Council and the World Affairs Council of Kentucky. Previously Colleen chaired the board of Shively Area Ministries and participated in Churchill Downs’ Derby Host program. She and her husband Mike Abate live in Louisville, KY with their two children. When she is not chasing after them, she enjoys walking, practicing yoga, and travelling.