Meet the Team

Tracy Salwei

Founder, President & Governance, Paralegal

Tracy is the Founder and President of Ascend Governance, a consulting firm dedicated to elevating board performance through strategic governance and specialized paralegal support. With a professional foundation as a governance paralegal, she brings deep expertise in board operations, compliance frameworks, and legal documentation. Her work is defined by a rare blend of precision, strategic insight, and a commitment to helping organizations lead with clarity and confidence.

Tracy has over 20 years of governance and legal paralegal experience. Tracy holds degrees in Criminal Justice, from South Dakota State University, and Paralegal studies, from ABA accredited university, Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Tracy earned her certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner (“CFE”) through ACFE in 2017. Tracy is also a Certified Minnesota Paralegal (“MnCP”).

Tracy has supported a wide range of mission-driven entities—from nonprofits to fortune 250 enterprises—helping them build stronger boards, streamline governance processes, and directly working with top attorneys to align leadership with long-term governance strategy. Her work is grounded in the belief that effective governance is not just about oversight—it’s about foresight and sustaining a lasting impact.

Tracy is known for her strategic thinking, clear communication, and ability to translate complex governance challenges into actionable solutions. Whether facilitating director onboarding, advising on elections, or designing governance frameworks, she partners with clients to elevate their leadership and strengthen their organizational governance foundation.

When she’s not working with clients, Tracy is often contributing to animal right initiatives, supporting conservation efforts, or exploring the intersection of governance and social impact