Verla Wallace is a writer, speaker and business executive with a wealth of experience from successful careers in journalism and business and a very colorful life.
She is a graduate of Wheaton College and spent 14 years as an award-winning news anchor, reporter, talk show host and documentary producer at Chicago radio affiliates of CBS, NBC, RKO and Mutual Broadcasting. She also wrote and produced nationally syndicated documentaries for the Public Affairs Broadcast Group.
Ms. Wallace segued from a career in broadcasting to public relations, serving as Deputy Director of Media Relations and Director of Spokesperson Training for Hill & Knowlton in Chicago, one of the world’s leading public relations firms. She worked with clients like Pepsi, Gerber, Kraft and other Fortune 500 companies, as well as professional sports teams and public figures. Her special expertise included media relations, crisis communication, media training, business writing and public relations counsel.
After leaving H&K, Ms. Wallace became Media Relations Manager for Lutheran General Health System, one of the Midwest’s largest healthcare conglomerates, which later became Advocate Healthcare. She left Lutheran General to become an independent public relations consultant and to devote more time to freelance writing and her growing faith-based interests.
In 2001 she founded LifeChasers, which equipped, inspired and encouraged Christians who were leaders in the marketplace to live out their faith with purpose, passion and commitment and to be a greater influence in our culture.
Ten years later, social networking sites, blogs and other new communications vehicles began to surpass traditional websites, magazines and newspapers in popularity. Simultaneously, Ms. Wallace felt a growing desire to connect more personally with a wider audience about life and faith and God’s interest in both. Thus, LifeChasers was retired and this blog, Pilgrim on the Loose, was born. (See “About This Blog” for more.)
She is author of Reality Check, A Survival Manual for Christians in the Workplace and has completed a yet-unpublished book, tentatively titled Revolt of a Well-Intentioned Life. She has written extensively for the Chicago Tribune, Christianity Today, Business Reform, Today’s Christian Woman, Citizen Magazine, and other periodicals. She is profiled in the book, What’s Next? Women Redefining Their Dreams in the Prime of Life and is listed in the 25th anniversary edition of “Who’s Who in the Midwest.”
Ms. Wallace is married, has one adult daughter and currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
