Barry DuVal was named President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in April 2010. After leading the organization for nearly 15 years, he announced his plan to retire in September 2024. In recognition of his leadership, the Virginia Chamber Board of Directors appointed DuVal as Senior Advisor to the Board and the incoming Virginia Chamber President and CEO, Cathie Vick, effective April 1, 2025. In addition to his role as Senior Advisor, DuVal has stepped into the position of President and CEO of ITA Growth Partners, a technology-enabled professional services firm, where he will lead efforts to provide strategic guidance and support to veteran-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Under DuVal’s leadership, the Chamber became Virginia’s largest business advocacy organization, growing from approximately 1,000 members in 2010 to more than 30,000 members today. Among his other significant achievements as President and CEO of the Chamber, Virginia was named CNBC’s Top State for Business a record six times – more than any other state – and recognized by Business Facilities as State of the Year three times. The Virginia Chamber Foundation was also established under his leadership, which launched programs like HIRE VETS NOW, a nationally recognized program that assists thousands of transitioning service members out of active duty and into employment with the Virginia business community. He also oversaw the legislative approval of the WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance, a health benefits program for small businesses in Virginia aimed at improving healthcare engagement and reducing healthcare costs. Today, over 3,000 Virginians working for small businesses receive healthcare coverage as a result of this initiative.
DuVal’s has a distinguished career in public service, which began in 1988 when he was elected to the Newport News City Council. In 1990, he was elected Mayor of the city. He served as Mayor from 1990 through 1996 when he stepped down to become the President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Partnership, a regional economic development organization representing Southeast Virginia’s 1.6 million citizens.
From 1998 through 2002, DuVal served as the Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. During his term as Secretary, he traveled to 24 foreign countries, resulting in a record-setting 1,500 economic development projects, representing nearly 157,000 new jobs and $13.7 billion in private investment.
He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Board of Visitors for Christopher Newport University, the Board of Visitors for James Madison University, the Board of Directors for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the Board of Directors for Delta Dental of Virginia.
The 2025 Virginia General Assembly introduced and agreed to a Joint Resolution commemorating DuVal’s public service. He has also been honored by the U.S. Senate in the Congressional Record for his distinguished career, which the Virginia federal delegation supported and passed. Additionally, for the last six years of his time at the Virginia Chamber, Virginia Business Magazine listed him as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a master’s degree from American University’s Washington College of Law.
