Patricia Wallace

Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development Initiatives

Patricia Wallace joined CAEL in 2021 as senior director of initiatives. Skilled in applying strategic frameworks to optimize private sector and government solutions, she focuses on creating meaningful connections that help individuals and organizations reach their “why.” As vice president of workforce and economic development initiatives, Wallace brings deep experience and expertise in managing projects that focus on workforce and education initiatives, strategic planning, and coordination of complex corporate foundational relationships.

Wallace most recently served as a senior director at Safal Partners, managing projects for the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, the Office of Apprenticeship, and the Office of Workforce Investment with national staff and executive leadership. Before that, she was the executive director for the Maricopa County Workforce Development Board in Phoenix, Arizona, where she led and implemented  employer-driven initiatives with a $30M Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act portfolio. Wallace also served as executive director for Santa Cruz County, aligning U.S./Mexico economic, workforce development, and education priorities county-wide. Wallace has extensive experience managing partnerships with Starbucks, Marke Foundation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, and Arizona State University. Other past roles include serving as a board trustee and service coordinator for Community Provider of Enrichment Services, Inc. and as a Department Program Coordinator at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine, conducting research and professional development within the healthcare, education, and government sectors.

Wallace earned her Bachelor of Science in Consumer and Family Sciences from Purdue University and has a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. She resides in Phoenix.