Economic Development: JENNIFER WAKEFIELD

The Lego Group’s June announcement that it will build a $1 billion toy factory in Chesterfield County is the largest deal so far that Wakefield has played a part in landing.

Wakefield joined the nonprofit regional economic development organization as its senior vice president of marketing in 2017 after spending 11 years in marketing, communications and public relations roles with the Orlando Economic Development Commission in Florida. She became president and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership in 2021 after twice serving as the group’s interim president and CEO.

Wakefield is a member of several professional organizations and regional boards, including Richmond Region Tourism and the Richmond Federal Reserve Industry Roundtable. She is a member of Lead Virginia’s 2018 class and has a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Florida.

ONE THING I’D CHANGE ABOUT VIRGINIA: I would love for Virginia to allocate dedicated funding for marketing for economic development in a similar manner to the ways that Ohio or Texas do. Our story is not getting out there nearly enough.

BEST ADVICE FOR OTHERS: “Do or do not. There is no try.” — Master Yoda