RICHMOND, Va. — Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger today announced the appointment of Carrie Chenery to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Commerce and Trade.
“The number-one job of the Governor of Virginia is to grow the Commonwealth’s economy and create good-paying jobs in every community. Maintaining a stable and predictable business environment is essential to attracting new investment and fostering the kinds of opportunities that allow Virginians to earn a good living, support their families, and have confidence in a secure retirement,” said Spanberger. “Throughout her career, Ms. Chenery has brought together private industry, workforce partners, and local government to achieve these exact goals. Her deep understanding of economic development aligns with my administration’s mission to make Virginia the top state in America for business.”
“As a native Virginian, I am honored and excited to serve Governor-elect Spanberger in this historic administration. I share in the Governor-elect’s clear vision to position Virginia as the nation’s best place to do business through a defining opportunity to lead affordability, housing, and energy progress,” said Chenery. “My statewide work in economic, community, and business development has given me a deep appreciation for the importance of realizing potential, building capacity, engaging diverse stakeholders, and delivering practical results. I look forward to leading the Commerce and Trade secretariat with a collaborative and business-friendly approach that supports Governor-elect Spanberger, our many partners, and every region of the Commonwealth.”
BIOGRAPHY
Carrie Chenery, Secretary of Commerce and Trade
Carrie H. Chenery is a native Virginian with two decades of experience in economic development, public policy, government relations, and strategic communications through both public service and private business. Her career spans identifying business growth opportunities for clients, leading a regional economic development organization, managing economic development policy for Virginia’s largest private industries, and shepherding legislative and budgetary priorities through the Virginia General Assembly.
Chenery founded Valley Pike Partners in 2018, helping companies grow across Virginia with modern strategies in public affairs, business development, and community engagement. Carrie previously served as the Executive Director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership (SVP), the region’s economic development and marketing organization. During her tenure, the region announced new and existing business projects representing over $460 million in capital investment and 1,900 new jobs while unifying seven counties and five cities under a shared economic development vision, building coalitions among 160 private sector investors, and serving as the region’s strategic voice to site consultants, partner agencies, and elected and appointed officials.
Prior to her leadership role at SVP, Carrie served the Virginia Office of the Governor as the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry. She was responsible for the oversight and advancement of economic development efforts, including administration of the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) fund, related to Virginia’s largest private industries of agriculture and forestry. During her tenure, the AFID fund contributed to the announcement of over $46 million in new private capital investment and the creation of over 400 jobs.
Prior to her role in the Governor’s Office, she gained wide-ranging economic development, marketing, government relations, and communication experience across diverse industry sectors as the Manager of Legislation & Policy at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and as a Director of Government Affairs with the law firm Williams Mullen.
A graduate of Virginia Tech, Carrie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Policy & Planning and Agricultural & Applied Economics. She is also a graduate of the Political Leaders Program through the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. She previously served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority Board of Directors and the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
Carrie has been named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect and as an Outstanding Alumni by the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
She and her husband Taylor are the proud parents of two daughters.
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