Napoleon Wallace Joins Commerce Team To Lead Rural Economic Development

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland has appointed Napoleon Wallace, a finance and community development executive, as the department’s Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development.

Mr. Wallace will spearhead the department’s support for North Carolina’s rural communities, leading a team of specialists that help communities make the necessary preparations and infrastructure investments to attract business and economic growth.

Before accepting his new appointment, Wallace served as a Social Investment Officer at the Kresge Foundation in metropolitan Detroit. The foundation, a $3.6 billion private philanthropic organization working to expand opportunities in America’s cities, focuses on a range of community issues, from the arts and education to the environment. During his tenure, Wallace guided investments related to the foundation’s health and human services programs.

Earlier in his career, Wallace served on the Executive Staff at Self-Help, the financial and policy advocacy organization headquartered in Durham. Wallace managed several community development initiatives at Self-Help, including small-business lending, financial institution management, mergers, portfolio acquisitions and community development real estate projects.

Wallace has also worked as a corporate bond research analyst with Wachovia Capital Markets and as a commercial credit analyst with M&F Bancorp’s Commercial Credit Group.

Mr. Wallace grew up in Pitt and Beaufort counties and received his bachelor’s degree in finance from North Carolina Central University. He earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Napoleon Wallace’s appointment is effective today, Monday, April 17, 2017.