Spanberger appoints Virginia commerce and trade secretary

Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger‘s transition team announced Monday that Carrie H. Chenery, former executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, has been appointed secretary of commerce and trade.

A Staunton resident, Chenery in 2018 founded Valley Pike Partners, a consulting firm that assists companies with public affairs, business development and community engagement, and she previously served as assistant secretary of agriculture and forestry for the state.

Chenery is a Virginia Tech graduate who served on its board of visitors from 2020 to 2024, having been appointed by former Gov. Ralph Northam, and she was manager of legislation and policy at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and director of government affairs at law firm Williams Mullen.

As assistant agriculture secretary under former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Chenery was responsible for the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) fund, which contributed to more than $46 million in new private capital investment and the creation of more than 400 jobs during Chenery’s tenure.

“The No. 1 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,” Spanberger said in a statement. “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.”

Former Virginia commerce secretary Todd Haymore, who also served as agriculture secretary under McAuliffe and former Gov. Bob McDonnell, wrote congratulations to Chenery in a LinkedIn post Monday. “So happy for, and proud of, my good friend and former deputy, Carrie Chenery, on her appointment as Virginia’s next secretary of commerce and trade. Carrie is one of the most talented, hard-working and focused individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of hiring and working with.”

Spanberger, a Democrat, takes office Jan. 17.