Employment Compliance Solutions, LLC works as a partner to clients, large and small.
We combine business experience with legal know-how to create reliable legal solutions.
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Julie Pate is the Founder and President of Employment Compliance Solutions LLC, bringing over 27 years of experience in Employment and Labor Law and more than a decade as a senior HR executive for a multi-state organization with operations in the U.S. and Mexico.
Julie partners with businesses to deliver practical, results-driven solutions in compliance, training, leadership coaching, and workplace investigations. Her expertise includes:
- Workplace investigations
- Legal and management training
- One-on-one leadership coaching
- Development of policies, procedures, and compliance programs for ADAAA, ADEA, FMLA, FCRA, FLSA, DOT, and other employment regulations
Julie earned her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming. She holds the SHRM-Senior Certified Professional designation, is an ITIXA-certified Title IX investigator, and is an active member of the Association of Workplace Investigators.
Jacqui Ruppel is a Senior Investigator and Human Resources Legal Advisor with over 23 years of experience in employment law. She specializes in workplace investigations, guiding investigation processes, and advising clients post-investigation. Her expertise covers allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, fraud, workplace violence, pay equity, and misconduct.
Jacqui began her career at a Denver-based nonprofit advising employers on employment law, human resources, and training. Before joining ECS, she spent 15 years with a Fortune 500 company, providing counsel on employment law and HR issues across all 50 states and international locations.
She has represented employers in discrimination claims before the EEOC and state agencies, managed legal claims, overseen employment-based immigration, and advised on global mobility. Jacqui has also developed policies and training on Title VII, ADAAA, FMLA, state paid leave laws, FLSA, ADEA, and other employment regulations.
A Colorado native, Jacqui earned her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School. She is an ATIXA Certified Title IX Investigator and an active member of the Association of Workplace Investigators.
Rick “Vandy” Vander Velde is a leadership trainer and coach. Vandy has devoted more than 35 years to the fire service. He began his career with the Longmont Fire Department, rising through the ranks before joining the Poudre Fire Authority in 2013 as its Operations Chief. After retiring in 2024, he continued his commitment to public safety by going back online as a Battalion Chief with the Golden Fire Department, focusing on mentoring and developing its future leaders.
Vandy was instrumental in establishing the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System in 1991, working with fire service leaders nationwide to create deployment and training protocols. As a long-standing member and Task Force Leader of Colorado Urban Search and Rescue (CO-TF1) for 34 years, he responded to numerous major incidents, including the World Trade Center attacks, the Shuttle Columbia disaster, six hurricanes, two Colorado floods, and the Windsor Tornado.
His leadership philosophy centers on cultivating the next generation through Grit (guts, resiliency, intentionality, and tenacity) and Grace (gratitude, respect, attitude, compassion, and empathy). Vandy’s dedication and distinctive leadership style have earned him recognition as one of Colorado’s most respected fire chiefs.