Daniel Wallace is the first President and CEO of Appalachian Community Capital’s Green Bank for Rural America. Previously, he served as Chief Investment Officer at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a Maine-based Community Development Finance Institution. CEI’s mission is to build a just, vibrant, and climate-resilient future for people and communities in Maine and rural regions by integrating finance, business expertise, and policy solutions in ways that make the economy work more equitably.
As CEI’s Chief Investment Officer, Daniel led a team of 14 deploying capital to Maine’s small business community and oversees the management of CEI’s loan and investment portfolio, which grew to $78 million under his leadership. He supported capital formation and was a member of CEI’s Senior Leadership Team. Daniel also served as Chief Executive Officer of subsidiary company 30 Federal Street Investments, LLC. (30FSI), which delivers state historic tax credits as equity investments to help rehabilitate historic properties, revitalize downtowns, and create affordable housing.
Daniel was recently described by his colleagues as “a relentless advocate for making CEI’s lending more equitable, accessible, and small business friendly.” During his tenure at CEI, Daniel spearheaded the creation of several new financing products designed to expand access to capital for low-income communities and build wealth for entrepreneurs under-resourced by traditional financial institutions.
Daniel began his career at CEI in 2012 in the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program, bringing with him experience managing and owning retail food businesses, building residential green homes for Habitat for Humanity, and running a small nonprofit arts organization. Daniel grew up in a rural Maine town of about 800 people and took a leap at age sixteen to study abroad in Brazil his senior year of high school. He has maintained a love for travel, history, and culture ever since.
In 2023, Daniel was recognized as the Small Business Administration’s Financial Services Champion for Maine. Daniel serves on the Steering Committee for Opportunity Appalachia and as a member of the NeighborWorks Capital Focus Group. He holds a B.A. from Williams College and an M.A. in Community Planning and Development from the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.
Daniel leads with passion not only to question and disrupt the traditional systems that have left so many people out of the economic mainstream, but also to build and implement practical solutions to shape a world that it is truly just and equitable, where all people belong and thrive in a climate constrained future.
Once a professional baker, Daniel is always on the lookout for an excellent loaf of artisan bread.
