Verena A. Peeples

About Verena A. Peeples

With more than 27 years in the technology sector, I specialize in enterprise transformation, governance, and emerging technology strategy. My work focuses on helping organizations adopt complex technologies responsibly, sustainably, and in alignment with business and regulatory expectations.I lead governance and strategy initiatives designed to ensure technology investments deliver measurable business value while maintaining strong architectural discipline, compliance, and risk management. I am particularly experienced in translating strategic vision into operational execution, building governance structures, enabling data-driven decision-making, and guiding organizations through transformation initiatives that require both innovation and accountability.As part of this work, I established and operationalized an Architecture Review Board (ARB), including the supporting processes, review criteria, and cross-functional decision framework. The ARB serves as a centralized governance control point for technology initiatives seeking investment approval, helping ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture standards, regulatory expectations, and long-term operational sustainability. This governance model strengthened decision transparency, improved early lifecycle risk evaluation, and supported responsible innovation.My academic and professional research focuses on artificial intelligence adoption, particularly how organizations scale AI responsibly. My work examines why AI initiatives stall and identifies the governance, accountability, and readiness conditions required for sustainable implementation. This research has contributed to helping establish governance-first AI adoption as an emerging discipline in responsible technology implementation.In parallel with my enterprise governance work, I founded ACE Solutions, Inc, where I contribute to the broader industry conversation on responsible AI adoption through independent research, education, and thought leadership. This work includes governance-first responsibility models, readiness diagnostics, and professional education initiatives supporting organizations from small and mid-sized businesses to highly regulated enterprise environments.I am also the author of the forthcoming book, Governance First: How Organizations Adopt AI Without Losing Control.I remain deeply committed to strengthening collaboration across business, technology, and risk disciplines to help organizations deliver innovation with stability, accountability, and long-term strategic impact.

Experience

1. Head of Architecture Governance and Strategy, Principal Technology Business Strategy Consultant, VP

   Comerica Bank

   Feb 2023 — Present

   Spearheaded the creation and management of critical processes and procedures within Enterprise Architecture by establishing the Architecture Review Board (ARB), comprised of senior leadership and key stakeholders. This initiative fosters collaborative decision-making regarding corporate architecture direction.• Acted as a governance body through the ARB, ensuring that all IT initiatives align with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives, promoting synergy between technology and business outcomes.• Established the ARB as the benchmark for regulatory compliance assessment across IT operations, setting industry standards and reinforcing the organization’s commitment to effective governance and compliance.

Education

• Ferris State University

  BS, Marketing (Advertising)

  1989 — 1994

• Loyola University Chicago

  Master of Arts (MA) Bioethics and Health Policy, Bioethics/Medical Ethics

  2014 — 2016

• Loyola University Chicago

  Master’s Degree, Bioethics/Medical Ethics

  2014 — 2016

• University of Phoenix

  MBA, Global Management

  2009 — 2011

• Liberty University

  Doctor of Business, Strategic Management