Sacramento, Calif —The California Alliance of Child and Family Services’ Board of Directors is very pleased to announce the selection of Pete Weldy as its next Chief Executive Officer. Weldy brings two decades of leadership in child welfare, policy, and advocacy at the state and federal levels, along with a track record of leading systemic change for vulnerable populations.
Most recently, Weldy served as the Administrator of Region 9 for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and led ACF’s strategic initiatives and priorities for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the outer Pacific, and 157 federally recognized Tribes.
“The Board is excited to have Weldy lead the organization and our members as we continue to strive to ensure that the needs of children, youth, and families in California are top of mind for policymakers and other decision makers. His knowledge and policy experience at a state and federal level will be a significant asset to the Alliance and its member organizations,” said Beth Parsons, Board President and CEO of Youth for Change.
Prior to joining ACF, Weldy worked at California Strategies, the state’s largest public affairs consulting firm, where he led large-scale communication campaigns and worked with California’s leading business associations and nonprofit organizations to support their engagement with local and state government. He is a skilled communicator, public speaker, and strategic planner who has worked with many community-based organizations, philanthropies, elected officials, and business leaders to impact policymakers on issues relating to early childhood development, K-12 education, affordable housing, homelessness, and transportation.
Weldy also served as the director of public policy at Silicon Valley Community Foundation where he led lobbying, strategic initiatives, policy development, and other public affairs activities for the largest community foundation in the United States. He supported the development and implementation of policies designed to address the most pressing community needs, including finding solutions for Silicon Valley’s homelessness crisis. In addition, Weldy led Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s successful Choose Children 2018 campaign, a multi-million-dollar effort to make young children and families a priority in the 2018 California Governor’s race.
Weldy is a native Hoosier who has held numerous executive positions in the Indiana state government, including as the director of policy and research at the Department of Education and chief legislative aide to the leadership in the House of Representatives.
“I’m deeply honored to lead the California Alliance into its next chapter and profoundly grateful to the Board and every member organization, for entrusting me with this role. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Chris Stoner-Mertz for her visionary leadership with the Alliance for the past six years. She has set a high bar, and I’m committed to building on her extraordinary legacy.
It’s a privilege to stand alongside the dedicated members of the Alliance as we continue to champion policies and best practices that advance equity and help all children, youth, and families thrive. At a time when the needs are urgent and the challenges complex, I believe more than ever in the power of this Alliance to drive meaningful, lasting change for those who need it most.”
Weldy will begin his new role on June 9, following Christine Stoner-Mertz, LCSW, who has served as CEO since 2019 – over 6 years of exceptional leadership and growth for the California Alliance. Stoner-Mertz navigated the organization and provided guidance to member organizations through some of the most defining challenges in recent history, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a national reckoning on racial injustice, and sweeping Medi-Cal reforms in California.
Stoner-Mertz has achieved many remarkable accomplishments during her tenure, including growing the organization from nine staff to over 40, expanding the Alliance’s reach and impact throughout the state. Both the Catalyst Center and Full Circle Health Network have been established, providing exceptional support not only to members but to other organizations and individuals across the state. “We are honored to have had the privilege and opportunity to have Ms. Stoner-Mertz lead the Alliance and help the Alliance grow these past six years. Her leadership and development of Catalyst and Full Circle Health are enabling the member organizations and beyond to provide improved care for our youth and families across the state,” said Beth Parsons, Board President and CEO of Youth for Change.