Patricia Schneider

Pat brings 45 years of experience in business and law to her position. As the Chief Executive Officer of Racing for Mental Health, she leads the organization and reports directly to the Board of Directors. Pat is responsible for strategic planning and direction of the organization’s operations and programs.

Pat received her undergraduate degrees in business management and administration. She has a law degree that includes a 15-year legal practice specializing in corporate and municipal law as well as a presiding trial court judge. In her legal and judicial experience, she presided over mental health adjudications and worked with mental health care professionals as part of the municipal and criminal court systems.

As one of America’s leading businesswomen, her accomplishments in both the legal profession and in business have brought her to the forefront of corporate America. She has had instrumental roles in several start-up companies and has built business infrastructures with processes from the ground up to fully operational entities. She has been involved in businesses that operated both nationally and internationally.

Pat has served on several boards, both public and private. Her extensive board experience includes legal representation of boards and presenting at national board governance seminars. She has recruited and built high-level governance boards and professional advisory boards.

Her professional experiences include working on projects with President George H. W. Bush, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and other members of Congress.

She has received recognition and awards at the White House and from the International Who’s Who of Professionals, University Institutions and Community Organizations, United States Commerce Department, the Business Women’s Network Honorary Council, Joliet Junior College, Lewis University, and other community and civic organizations In 2003, she was named to the District Export Council of Illinois by President Bush and U.S. Secretary Don Evans, a position she held for 12 years. Over the years, Ms. Schneider has participated with Secretary Evans, and Assistant Secretary and Director General, Maria Cino in four U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Missions to Botswana and South Africa, Italy and Spain, Chile and Peru, Egypt, and Morocco where she assisted in negotiations on fair trade agreements between the United States and the foreign country.

An active community leader, Pat has chaired, sponsored, and participated in numerous charitable and civic events. She has been a mentor to the underprivileged through her work with the Forest Park Youth Builders. She has organized and ran several public referendums and political campaigns from start to finish.

Pat’s hobbies include cooking and entertaining her family and friends. She is the mother of 5 grown children and 6 grandchildren.
Pat is especially excited about starting this new adventure with Racing for Mental Health. “Helping people has always been my passion. Racing for Mental Health will help millions of people live more fulfilled lives.”