valley pike partners - with you
Valley Pike Partners is a nod to the road I grew up on, Valley Pike, which was the original Route 11 through Virginia's iconic Shenandoah Valley. This economic artery tied a string of vibrant towns and a still-thriving agricultural economy together along a route of commerce connecting this region and the Commonwealth to northern and southern population centers.
It was a steady, simple, practical, safe guide and efficient backbone -
the same way I want to envision and describe client work. "Partners" signifies my approach, background, and interest in working collaboratively with public, private, and nonprofit colleagues and clients to help companies, communities, and organizations grow in Virginia.
who
Carrie Chenery is a connected, thoughtful, strategic government relations and economic development professional offering locally-based guidance for globally-minded clients. Her mission through Valley Pike Partners is to guide the public and private sectors in Virginia to work together more closely, find mutually beneficial solutions, and achieve sustainable growth.
Carrie is the former Executive Director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership (SVP), the region’s economic development and marketing organization. SVP is the one-stop economic development resource for business attraction, business expansion and workforce development opportunities in the Shenandoah Valley, representing 12 localities and over 150 private sector members.
Prior to her leadership role at SVP, Carrie worked in the Virginia Office of the Governor where she was appointed the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry. She was responsible for the oversight and advancement of economic development efforts, including administration of the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) fund, related to Virginia’s largest private industries of agriculture and forestry. Prior to her role in the Governor's Office she gained valuable, wide-ranging economic development, marketing, government relations and communication experience as the Manager of Legislation & Policy at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and as a Director of Government Affairs with the law firm Williams Mullen working across diverse industry sectors.
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A native of Virginia, Carrie is a graduate of Virginia Tech where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Policy & Planning and Agricultural & Applied Economics. She is also a graduate of the Political Leaders Program through the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. She currently serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority Board of Directors and the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
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Carrie has been named one of North America's Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect, one of the Top 10 under 40 emerging business leaders in the Shenandoah Valley by the Daily News-Record Business Journal, one of the Most Influential Virginians “On the Move” by Virginia Business magazine, and an Outstanding Alumni by the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
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She lives in Staunton, Virginia, with her husband, Taylor, and their two daughters.
