Rick C. Wade is Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where he implements programs and initiatives to help the Chamber create new business relationships and partnerships across diverse audiences. He provides counsel on both domestic and global policy issues.
Wade also leads the Equality of Opportunity Initiative which advances policy and business solutions to help close America’s race-based opportunity gaps in education, employment, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, health, and wealth. A former Adviser to President Barack Obama and Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Wade has held executive roles in both the public and private sectors. He received his B.S. from the University of South Carolina and an M.P.A. from Harvard University.