RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – At this week’s Virginia Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee meeting in Richmond, Barry DuVal announced his plans to retire as President & CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in early 2025. He was born and raised in Virginia and grew up in Newport News. Barry DuVal served as Mayor of Newport News from 1990-1996, Secretary of Commerce & Trade for Virginia from 1998-2002, and was selected as President and CEO for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in April 2010.

“During his tenure with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Barry DuVal has transformed the state chamber into the most influential business advocacy organization in the state,” said Robert Duvall, Chairman of the Virginia Chamber for 2024.  “I want to express the appreciation of the Board of Directors for DuVal’s outstanding leadership. The Chamber membership has grown from approximately 1,000 in 2010, to over 32,000 members today. He has raised the profile of the Chamber, and its programs have greatly enhanced the business climate of Virginia.”

The Chairman added, “DuVal deserves credit for the launch of WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance, creating a consortium of small business owners to purchase affordable health insurance for their employees.”

Chairman Duvall also went on to express his appreciation to DuVal for the development of Blueprint Virginia saying, “His leadership has provided a strategy for helping Virginia to once again be recognized as the Top State for Business. Barry DuVal deserves the recognition afforded to him by Virginia Business Magazine for the past six years as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Barry DuVal led the development and implementation of Blueprint Virginia in 2013, 2017 and again in 2021. The Blueprint Virginia process brought together more than 100 business organizations and over 7,000 business leaders to present policy recommendations for a successful, long-term economic development plan to each newly elected Governor. Some of the most significant legislative accomplishments in Virginia can be tied to the Blueprint Virginia plan. DuVal’s approach has been effective and nonpartisan, as he is known to say, “The Virginia Chamber does not endorse candidates. We endorse ideas.” The goal of the Chamber is to ensure that Virginia strengthens its reputation as the Best State for Business. CNBC has ranked Virginia as the Top State for Business three times in the last six years, the most recent number one ranking was on July 11^th of 2024.  “Virginia can now boast more top rankings of any state in the country,” DuVal stated.

“It has been an honor to lead the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and I am proud of the accomplishments of the Chamber during my tenure,” stated Barry DuVal. “It has all been made possible by the support of the Board of Directors, Chamber investors, and members of the Chamber of Commerce that represent the very best of the business community in the Commonwealth. The state chamber staff and team members are dedicated professionals who have executed the mission that has allowed the chamber to succeed, and I wish to thank them for their dedication.”

DuVal continues to acknowledge the importance of local chambers of commerce and public policy makers, “I wish to thank the governors from both parties and representatives from the General Assembly who have supported pro-business ideas advocated by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber’s allies.”

The search for the next President & CEO will begin immediately. The Chairman of the Executive Search Committee is Alan Witt, Past Chair of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Dean of the Joseph W. Luter, III School of Business, Christopher Newport University and retired CEO of PBMARES, a top 100 Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm. Assisting in the search process will be The McCammon Group.

Candidates interested in the position should email Donna Hale, Manager of Operations and HR, at d.hale@vachamber.com

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About the Virginia Chamber of Commerce:
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 32,000 members. The Chamber is a non-partisan, business advocacy organization that works in the legislative, regulatory, and political arenas to act as the catalyst for positive change in all areas of economic development and competitiveness for Virginia. In December 2021, the Chamber released its new statewide strategic economic development plan, Blueprint Virginia 2030, which has engaged over 7,000 business, economic development, workforce, education, housing, and other community leaders to lay out a plan to ensure Virginia remains at the top of national business climate rankings. Learn more at  www.blueprintvirginia.org.