Alba Martinez is the Director of Commerce for the City of Philadelphia. She was appointed to the position by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker in January 2024. Alba is a senior leader with a distinguished track record to in business, government, non-profit, and cultural sectors. Her career is defined by a steadfast commitment to enhancing community well-being through education, cross-sector partnerships in business, government, education, and the arts, and fostering inclusive economic opportunities. In the corporate sphere, Martinez served as a senior executive at Vanguard, a renowned global investment company, for over a decade. As Head of Retail Client Services, she managed Vanguard’s largest client group, leveraging data analytics to enrich investor experiences and stimulate business growth. As Head of Global Talent Acquisition, she implemented innovative recruitment strategies, emphasizing diversity and inclusion. As a social entrepreneur, Martinez co-founded Magnolia Impact Solutions, developing a web-based financial health measurement tool that enables workforce organizations and funders to effectively evaluate the impact of their programs on clients’ economic well-being. She is also the founder of Street Knowledge, a life-long learning initiative to connect people in Philadelphia’s disadvantaged neighborhoods to career paths and financial mobility. Martinez’s influence extends to significant roles in the non-profit and government sectors. As President and CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, she led regional fundraising initiatives and introduced a results-driven funding model. As Philadelphia’s Commissioner of Human Services, she implemented performance-based contracting in foster care, reducing the number of children in placement by 50%. At Congreso de Latinos Unidos, she launched innovative programs, including Pennsylvania’s first Latina domestic violence program and a neighborhood-based carpenters union training program. She began her career advocating for the underserved as a lawyer at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Martinez obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Puerto Rico. She holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and attended advanced management programs at Wharton Business School and Harvard Business School. She serves on a number of Boards and Committees including Unidos US, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Philadelphia Works, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Schuylkill River Development Corporation, Supply Philadelphia Steering Committee, and Select Greater Philadelphia Advisory Board. Alba is married to Roberta Trombetta, a lawyer and child welfare advocate, and they reside in Fitler Square.
