Frank Woodruff is a strategic leader dedicated to igniting extraordinary communities and improving lives. In January 2012, Frank became the executive director of the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA).

Having grown substantially since then, NACEDA is undergoing a transformative shift to becoming a field-building organization for community economic development. This move aims to create a stronger environment for local strategies promoting equity and advancing prosperity. Recognizing the need to bolster the system supporting community economic development organizations and networks, Frank leads NACEDA as a catalyst for change. The organization shapes policies, fosters collaboration, builds organizational capacity, and produces cutting-edge research to advance the field.

Frank has spoken at many affordable housing and community economic development conferences. He has been published in Shelterforce, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Community Development Innovation Review, the Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Studies, Next City, the Professionalizing Field of Financial Counseling and Coaching Journal, Policy Perspectives at George Washington University, and numerous other journals and periodicals.

Frank holds an Executive Education Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School, a Masters of Public Policy degree from George Washington University, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He lives in Virginia with his wife, Natalie, and sons.

Chanse Sanchez joined NACEDA in June 2022 and rose to the role of research associate in 2023. She plays a pivotal role in the Grounding Values in Research project and coordinates NACEDA’s research initiatives.

Chanse is deeply passionate about data equity, applied research, and continuing education. She brings fresh perspectives on information and data accessibility, alongside a fervor for service and community growth, to NACEDA. With a rich background in education and development, Chanse has contributed significantly to bridging academic research and practical application.

Her experience extends to serving as a Peace Corps Education Volunteer, where she taught English and Economics to secondary students in Bunumbu, Sierra Leone. More recently, Chanse has been involved in revising and implementing digital literacy curricula with Baker Ripley in Houston, Texas. She is currently obtaining her Masters of Sociology from Illinois State University.