As Executive Connector of Social Venture Partners (SVP) Seattle and Founding President of SVP International, he has taken a national-level, thought & movement leader role at one of the most innovative social change organizations of the 21st century.

Paul Shoemaker has a 25-year career that spans entrepreneurial ventures to multi-national corporations, management at two of the leading companies and brands in the world, and roles from product marketing to worldwide operations to Board Chair to founder / CEO to national non-profit leader. He has experience on numerous Boards over the last 15 years, ranging from local to international, and for-profit to non-profit.

Paul is committed to work in the community, serving on the boards of several organizations. In 2011 and 2012, Paul was named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential People in the Non-Profit Sector” by The NonProfit Times. In 2013 he received the Red Winged Leadership Award from Seattle University, and the Philanthropist of the Year Award from Future in Review.

He is on the Board of Social Venture Partner International, as well as the Board of Partners for Our Children. Past work includes a recent term as Board Treasurer of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (2001-2007), Children’s Alliance in Seattle, (1996-2000) and Treepeople in Los Angeles (1987-1990).

Before coming to SVP Seattle in 1998, Paul was group manager for worldwide operations at Microsoft Corporation and developed a group of 22 direct marketing professionals and implemented a direct marketing infrastructure. Prior to his work at Microsoft, Paul was a Product Manager at Nestle USA in Glendale, CA.

Paul holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Texas and a BBA in Accounting from Iowa State University. Paul enjoys life with his wife and three sons, and is an avid sports fan, especially of his own kids’ teams, and “enjoys” his hobby as a high school basketball referee.