Week 1 Open the Gate Honoree: Cathy Pace
8/28/2023 7:33:00 PM | Football
Cathy Pace, the President and CEO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union, will lead the Wake Forest Demon Deacons onto the field for Opening Night Thursday, Aug. 31, against the Elon Phoenix.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Cathy Pace, the president and CEO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union, will lead the Wake Forest Demon Deacons onto the field for Opening Night Thursday, Aug. 31, against the Elon Phoenix. The game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the newly named Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Pace has spent over 40 years with Allegacy, holding multiple titles with increasing responsibility and has led the credit union in its most successful initiatives, including comprehensive commercial lending offerings, business services, wealth and financial planning, the credit union's name change, a nationally recognized successful holistic wellness program, an award-winning youth financial education program, and expansion into the Charlotte market. In August 2023, CUNA awarded Allegacy first place for the prestigious Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Member Service Award, "Fostering a Culture of Belonging Through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion."
Cathy oversees the credit union's ongoing expansion efforts and has played an integral role in Allegacy's growth. During her tenure, she has helped the credit union grow from 17,000 members to over 175,000 members and more than $2.2 billion in assets today, along with more than $1.5 billion in Allegacy Investment Group.
In June 2023, Wake Forest announced that Allegacy Federal Credit Union expanded its agreement with the University to include the naming entitlement for the home of Demon Deacons football.
Also with the agreement, Allegacy became An Official Banking Partner of Wake Forest Athletics, the Exclusive Credit Union of Wake Forest Athletics, the Official Wealth Management Advisors of Wake Forest Athletics and the Exclusive Banking Partner of Wake Forest Football. Additionally, Allegacy became Wake Forest's Preferred Student-Athlete Financial Education Provider, providing the availability of Allegacy financial experts to assist Wake Forest student-athletes with general financial matters and education.
Wake Forest and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist have been longtime members of Allegacy's Select Employee Group (SEG), offering employees the distinctive benefits of the credit union in strengthening financial wellbeing. Meanwhile, the Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest's School of Business helps develop future civic and corporate leaders and Allegacy is also the official credit union of Wake Forest Basketball.
Back to Pace, some of her numerous awards and accolades include The Triad's Most Admired CEOs, Triad's Top 40 Most Influential People, Triad Power Player, Women in Business and Business Leader's Women Extraordinaire. Additionally, she was named Marketer of the Year by the Credit Union Executives Society and Woman of the Year by YMCA of Forsyth County. In 2020, she was named as one of five Outstanding Women Leaders of Winston-Salem.
A catalyst in promoting community support, Cathy also serves on numerous boards including her newest appointment in 2022 as Chair for Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. Other board memberships include Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center Regional Advisory Group chair, Wake Forest School of Business Board of Visitors, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad, Inc. In addition, she also serves on the Board of Directors for PSCU, a national credit union service organization that supports over 1,500 credit unions.
Cathy attended Salem College and is a graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem Flagship and INSIGHT programs. She also graduated from the University of Missouri Credit Union Executive Marketing Institute and Dale Carnegie Institute.
Open the Gate Information & 2023 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition has been an important and unique aspect of football games since its inception in 2008. This allows Wake Forest to honor individuals that make its University and Winston-Salem community so special. Honorees ride on the back of the motorcycle with the Demon Deacon mascot and lead the football team onto Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. The first ever honoree was Wake Forest and Winston-Salem legend, Chris Paul.
Week 1 vs. Elon: Cathy Pace
Pace has spent over 40 years with Allegacy, holding multiple titles with increasing responsibility and has led the credit union in its most successful initiatives, including comprehensive commercial lending offerings, business services, wealth and financial planning, the credit union's name change, a nationally recognized successful holistic wellness program, an award-winning youth financial education program, and expansion into the Charlotte market. In August 2023, CUNA awarded Allegacy first place for the prestigious Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Member Service Award, "Fostering a Culture of Belonging Through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion."
Cathy oversees the credit union's ongoing expansion efforts and has played an integral role in Allegacy's growth. During her tenure, she has helped the credit union grow from 17,000 members to over 175,000 members and more than $2.2 billion in assets today, along with more than $1.5 billion in Allegacy Investment Group.
In June 2023, Wake Forest announced that Allegacy Federal Credit Union expanded its agreement with the University to include the naming entitlement for the home of Demon Deacons football.
Also with the agreement, Allegacy became An Official Banking Partner of Wake Forest Athletics, the Exclusive Credit Union of Wake Forest Athletics, the Official Wealth Management Advisors of Wake Forest Athletics and the Exclusive Banking Partner of Wake Forest Football. Additionally, Allegacy became Wake Forest's Preferred Student-Athlete Financial Education Provider, providing the availability of Allegacy financial experts to assist Wake Forest student-athletes with general financial matters and education.
Wake Forest and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist have been longtime members of Allegacy's Select Employee Group (SEG), offering employees the distinctive benefits of the credit union in strengthening financial wellbeing. Meanwhile, the Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest's School of Business helps develop future civic and corporate leaders and Allegacy is also the official credit union of Wake Forest Basketball.
Back to Pace, some of her numerous awards and accolades include The Triad's Most Admired CEOs, Triad's Top 40 Most Influential People, Triad Power Player, Women in Business and Business Leader's Women Extraordinaire. Additionally, she was named Marketer of the Year by the Credit Union Executives Society and Woman of the Year by YMCA of Forsyth County. In 2020, she was named as one of five Outstanding Women Leaders of Winston-Salem.
A catalyst in promoting community support, Cathy also serves on numerous boards including her newest appointment in 2022 as Chair for Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. Other board memberships include Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center Regional Advisory Group chair, Wake Forest School of Business Board of Visitors, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad, Inc. In addition, she also serves on the Board of Directors for PSCU, a national credit union service organization that supports over 1,500 credit unions.
Cathy attended Salem College and is a graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem Flagship and INSIGHT programs. She also graduated from the University of Missouri Credit Union Executive Marketing Institute and Dale Carnegie Institute.
Open the Gate Information & 2023 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition has been an important and unique aspect of football games since its inception in 2008. This allows Wake Forest to honor individuals that make its University and Winston-Salem community so special. Honorees ride on the back of the motorcycle with the Demon Deacon mascot and lead the football team onto Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. The first ever honoree was Wake Forest and Winston-Salem legend, Chris Paul.
Week 1 vs. Elon: Cathy Pace
Wake Forest Women's Basketball Highlights vs Hampton (Nov. 9, 2025)
Sunday, November 09
Wake Forest Football Highlights vs Virginia Cavaliers (Nov. 8, 2025)
Sunday, November 09
Wake Forest Postgame Press Conference vs. Virginia (Nov. 8, 2025)
Sunday, November 09
Wake Forest Men's Basketball Highlights vs Morehead State (Nov. 7, 2025)
Saturday, November 08