Comptroller Scott M. Stringer Appoints Carra Wallace Chief Diversity Officer

NEW YORK, NY-New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today announced his appointment of Carra Wallace as the first-ever Chief Diversity Officer overseeing City agencies. Wallace was formerly Managing Director at the Office of Executive Initiatives at the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) where she led the Authority’s diversity initiatives for financial, legal and professional services, including Minority and Women-Owned Business (M/WBE) contracts.

The Chief Diversity Officer will be Comptroller Stringer’s point person on three initiatives:

• Implementing and monitoring a letter-grading program for City agencies that will provide the public with clear, easy-to-understand data on whether goals for Minority and Women-Owned Business (M/WBE) contracting are being met;
• Working with the Comptroller’s corporate governance team on supplier, workplace and board diversity initiatives; and
• Leading Comptroller Stringer’s Advisory Council on M/WBEs, which will be formed in the spring.

“I am thrilled that Carra Wallace will be joining the Comptroller’s Office to lead diversity initiatives that will play a role in improving our economy, promoting competition for City contracts and expanding opportunity for all,” Stringer said. “From prospective employers to job-seekers to taxpayers, everyone benefits when there is a diverse pool from which our City can procure goods and services. Carra’s portfolio will be expansive, from M/WBE contracting by City agencies to working with our corporate governance team to make the case for diversity in portfolio companies. There is much work to be done and I am excited to see how Carra and this office can be a force for economic justice.”

Comptroller Stringer’s letter grading system, to be unveiled in the coming months, will be the most comprehensive assessment of City agency performance in advancing M/WBE procurement to date. M/WBE firms’ share of procurement dollars declined from 5 percent of total procurement in FY 2012, to 2.7 percent in FY 2013, the lowest level since FY 2008. As Local Law 1 of 2013, which extended the City’s existing M/WBE goals to include all construction, professional services and standard services contracts, not just those of less than $1 million, is implemented, this grading system will be an important tool for measuring progress made by agencies in reaching their M/WBE goals.

“I am excited to be the first Chief Diversity Officer for the Comptroller’s Office and I thank Comptroller Stringer for the opportunity to be a change agent for underserved populations,” Wallace said. “The Comptroller’s Office plays a vital role in ensuring that our minority-and women-owned businesses are getting their fair share of contracts, that the City accesses contractors of the best quality and talent and that our portfolio companies engage in good business practices. My career has been dedicated to improving access and encouraging participation in government among these communities and I look forward to taking on this new role in the greatest and most diverse city in the world.”

Carra Wallace has 20 years of private and public sector leadership. Most recently, she served as DASNY’s Managing Director of the Office of Executive Initiatives. A native of California, Carra holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Pepperdine University and a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University. Ms. Wallace will start work at the Comptroller’s office on Monday.

Comptroller Stringer also announced that he has appointed Wendy Garcia, Director of Community Partnerships and Outreach at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, to serve as Deputy Chief Diversity Officer to Ms. Wallace.

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