Patty Viafara
- Director - Worker Ownership Initiative
- Pronouns: She/her
- Year Hired: 2022
I joined Nexus to lead the Worker Owner Initiative (WOI), which is part of Nexus’ Community Wealth Building Strategy. I help companies assess employee ownership as a model for stronger businesses and create employee and community wealth. Our vision is to raise awareness of these models so that business ownership, quality jobs, and community self-determination are accessible to all of us.
About Patty
I’ve been working with small businesses and non-profits for over 14 years in a variety of roles, primarily focused on the people side of operational change. I’ve worked with over 30 companies at various stages in their journey to employee-ownership. I truly take pride and joy in helping groups envision and implement their future.
I was born in Colombia to bi-racial parents and count over 40 first cousins. I draw from my personal experience growing up in Miami, Florida where 54% of the population is foreign born, and I have learned that I can find common ground with just about anyone. In my free time, I enjoy paddleboarding, hiking, hand-building pottery, singing, dancing and spending time with my family and dog Stella.
“In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don’t always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor.”
Julian Castro