Rick Padilla

Rick Padilla is the City of Denver’s first suicide prevention administrator in the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment, Office of Community Behavioral Health. He is the former director of housing development for the City & County of Denver, where he was responsible for advancing the city’s affordable housing policies & strategy, affordable housing production and investments. In his current role, he leads the City’s efforts around suicide prevention in collaboration with City agency partners in public safety, human resources and more. A gap analysis will be undertaken and a city-wide strategy implemented. Padilla is not new to human services, having investigated child abuse and neglect, developed and managed a juvenile diversion program and worked for the Menninger Foundation establishing a national group home network.

Mr. Padilla was formerly the director of strategic markets in the Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach Department of Freddie Mac, where he was responsible for new business development, lender relations, consumer outreach and representing Freddie Mac in industry and consumer affairs.  Prior to joining Freddie Mac, he was a national business development manager with NeighborWorks America.  

Mr. Padilla has a bachelors degree, awarded magna cum laude from the University of Colorado, a masters degree in public administration and a law degree from the University of Kansas. He served as chairman of the Colorado Division of Housing Board of Directors, served on the Colorado State Banking Board and has sat on numerous community and nonprofit boards, including the Mile High United Way, American Red Cross and many others.