Payne currently serves as President and CEO United Way of Central Indiana. He was the commissioner of Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development, a role to which he was appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb in December 2017.
As commissioner of the state’s Department of Workforce Development, Payne oversaw the agency responsible for Indiana’s employment and re-employment services, with more than 1,000 employees. The department administered more than $9.6 billion in unemployment insurance benefits to over 908,000 people during the coronavirus pandemic. He also served on the governor’s Workforce Cabinet and chaired the governor’s Health Workforce Council.
Before joining the department, Payne spent more than a decade at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana in various roles, including chief administrator, general counsel and compliance officer. He’s credited with starting several key initiatives, including the office of inclusion and diversity, corporate governance and risk management.
Payne currently serves on the board of directors for the Indy Eleven Foundation, Indianapolis Urban League and Honda Federal Credit Union.
“Fred Payne is a great leader who has developed and supported numerous partnerships with community-based organizations while at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana and as Commissioner of the state of Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development,” said Tony Mason, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Urban League. “He is well prepared to lead the United Way of Central Indiana.”
Payne is a graduate of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Grambling State University. He has experience in private law practice.