Shenandoah Valley Partnership names executive director

Jay A. Langston has been named the new executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership.

Langston is managing director of business retention and expansion at the Richmond-based Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP).

He will begin work at the Harrisonburg-based economic development organization in December.

Langston succeeds Carrie Chenery who announced in August she was stepping down as executive director  to spend more time with her 1-year-old daughter.

Chenery has started a local government relations and economic development consulting firm, Valley Pike Partners.

“I think Jay will do a wonderful job,” Chenery says about her successor. “I’ve known him for years and I think it’s a great next step and progression in the life of SVP.”

Langston has served in several capacities at VEDP including senior business manager/senior advisor in competitive initiatives and senior research manager.

Before joining VEDP, he was executive director of Virginia’s Gateway Region, a regional economic development organization.

In his current role at VEDP, Langston manages the team responsible for working with local and regional partners to assist existing businesses.

Langston received the 2010 Virginia Economic Developers Association’s Cardinal Award, the highest award for economic development leadership, career accomplishment and service.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech, and master’s and doctoral degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University.