Financial Trailblazer Cathy Pace to Deliver School of Business Hooding Ceremony Address

Cathy Pace, the retiring Chief Executive Officer and President of Allegacy Federal Credit Union, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Wake Forest School of Business graduate hooding ceremony. The event will be held on Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at Wait Chapel on the university’s Reynolda Campus.

The special ceremony honors master’s degree recipients in the management, accountancy, business analytics and business administration programs and marks the completion of their graduate journey.

“I am truly honored to be able to address this year’s graduates,” says Pace, who remains actively engaged at Allegacy as the Executive Advisor to the CEO. “As I think about what they may be feeling on graduation day, I’m remembering my own transitions in life and career. I hope to offer some words of encouragement and inspiration that will serve to empower them as they move forward in their careers. Achieving success is not a solo journey. I treasure the opportunity to share with them the wisdom others have given to me during a very fulfilling career.”

Widely regarded as an innovator in the credit union industry, Pace has had a remarkable 45-year career at Allegacy, one of the largest credit unions in North Carolina with more than $2.2 billion in assets, some 175,000 members, and more than $1.5 billion in assets under management in Allegacy Investment Group. Her journey at Allegacy began in her position as a switchboard operator for Reynolds Carolina Federal Credit Union. She has held numerous leadership positions within the credit union, and in May 2013, Pace assumed leadership of the organization as President and Chief Executive Officer.

In her role as CEO, Pace has been a driving force in Allegacy’s growth and success. Under her leadership, the credit union has grown significantly, including an expansion into the Charlotte market, growth in its commercial lending offerings, business services, wealth and financial planning initiatives, the launch of a nationally recognized holistic wellness program, and the establishment of an award-winning youth financial education program.

An avid supporter of education, Pace spearheaded a partnership with Wake Forest University nearly 20 years ago, and in 2019, the credit union made a $2 million investment in the School of Business to name the School’s Allegacy Center for Leadership & Character. The 20-year collaboration reached another significant milestone in 2023 with an additional investment in the Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character and the unveiling of the Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, the University’s football venue.

Pace attended Salem College and currently serves as a member of the Wake Forest School of Business Board of Visitors.

A livestream of the hooding ceremony will be available. More information can be found at commencement.wfu.edu.

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