Lewis Runnion co-founded Eleven 09, LLC to deliver innovative solutions to American businesses, government agencies and philanthropies helping them develop transformative programs impacting active military, their families and the Nations’ veterans. As Cofounder and Managing Partner, he advises senior executives and organizations on building integrated programs and helps them in navigating complex environments to best apply resources available to gain measurable outcomes.
Lewis has a nearly 20-year history in the financial services industry both in private banking and, most recently, public policy. Lewis’ experience includes engagements with national organizations, both for profit and non-profit, as well as local, state and federal governmental entities.
As Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Director of Military Affairs at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, he oversaw initiatives that assisted military veterans and their families with needs related to financial services, education, employment and housing.
During his career, Lewis has helped to construct workforce development programs that have proven track records of success by adding more than 8,000 veterans to the workforce. He has been the lead architect in the allocation and management of tens of millions of dollars of philanthropic partnerships taking close care to align outcome based programs with strong, integrated marketing and communication strategies for the organizations and communities that he serves.
Lewis and his team were innovators by initiating government/private partnerships, such as the first ever Social Impact Bond (SIB) focused on veteran employment programs. Discovering a need for veteran entrepreneurs to access low cost capital, Lewis helped to build national programs to make tens of millions of capital available through Community Development Funds. Lewis has built some of the most recognized post 9/11 veteran programs in America.
Lewis serves on the board of directors for both America Warrior Partnership and The Infinite Hero Foundation and he was a cofounder of Veterans on Wall Street. His previous board roles included Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program, YMCA Fort Worth, The R4 Alliance, among others.
Prior to beginning his financial services career, Lewis served as both an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer in the United States Army, attaining his commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Following his discharge from active Army, Lewis spent an additional five years in the United States Army Reserve.
