Barry DuVal was named President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in April 2010. Under his leadership, the Chamber has become Virginia’s largest business advocacy group, growing from approximately 1,000 members in 2010 to more than 29,000 members today. In 2013, the Chamber produced Blueprint Virginia, the Commonwealth’s first comprehensive business-led initiative to provide direction and long-term economic development planning for Virginia. In 2017 and 2021, the Chamber released an update to the original Blueprint, an action plan for strengthening Virginia’s economic competitiveness and getting Virginia back to the top of business climate rankings. Each Blueprint was presented to the Governors-elect at the Chamber’s annual Economic Summit following the elections in 2013, 2017, and 2021.
Mr. DuVal has experience in business and public service. His public service 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 & CEO of Hampton Roads Partnership, a regional economic development organization representing Southeast Virginia’s 1.6 million citizens.
From 1998 through 2002, Mr. DuVal served as the Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia. During his term as Secretary, Virginia attracted a record-setting 1,500 economic development projects representing 156,850 new jobs and $13.7 billion in private investment.
For the last six years, Virginia Business Magazine listed him as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Board of Visitors for Christopher Newport University and Board of Visitors for James Madison University.
Mr. DuVal holds a B.S. degree from James Madison University and a Masters of Law degree from American University’s Washington College of Law.
For media or scheduling inquiries, please email Hannah Emerson h.emerson@vachamber.com.
