Economic Development 2023: TODD P. HAYMORE

Since 2018, Haymore has led Hunton Andrews Kurth’s global economic development wing, providing strategic advice to guide multinational and national companies to expand or relocate their businesses to Virginia. In July, he became rector of Virginia Commonwealth University. Formerly the state’s commerce and trade secretary and agriculture and forestry secretary under Govs. Terry McAuliffe and Bob McDonnell, Haymore is a Danville native who was an executive for tobacco companies Universal Leaf Tobacco and Dimon (now Pyxus International). He is also vice chairman of GO Virginia’s Region 4 Council, which spans from Hanover County to Emporia.

FIRST JOB: At 8 years old, working at my uncle’s leaf tobacco warehouse outside of Danville. I made $20 a week and felt like a millionaire.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: I’ve learned that there’s a lot of truth in the saying about living each day to the fullest. Maybe it’s a combination of getting older and navigating the last two pandemic-impacted years, but it really is important to recognize that life is fragile, we don’t know how much time we’ll have to enjoy it, and we should strive to live each day to the fullest.