Who runs economic development in Chesterfield County

A guide to the people behind the county's biggest business deals: the staff who do the recruiting, and the appointed board that holds the money and the land.

Two bodies, one mission. The Economic Development Department is the county staff that recruits companies and helps local businesses grow. The Economic Development Authority is a seven-member board, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, that can issue bonds and buy and hold land for county projects. Here is who fills those roles now, plus one recent departure worth noting.

The Economic Development Department

County staff, from the department's own team page.

Garrett Hart

Director

Leads the department and is president of the Virginia Economic Developers Association. Director since 2015; his tenure spans the LEGO, Google and Commonwealth Fusion Systems announcements. Has said he will retire effective January 2027.

Photo: Chesterfield County

Matt McLaren

Deputy Director, Business Attraction

Runs business recruitment. Came to the county from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and economic-development roles in Prince William and Hanover counties.

Photo: Chesterfield County

Jake Elder

Deputy Director, Development Services (until 2026)

The department's data-center and development lead, credited with helping land the LEGO plant. Left the county in 2026.

Departed 2026

Photo: Chesterfield County

Latisha Jenkins

Managing Director, Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Leads the department's programs for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Photo: Chesterfield County

Tina Shreve

Managing Director, Workforce Development

A 25-plus-year veteran of the department; now leads its workforce-development work.

Photo: Chesterfield County

Kathryn Abelt

GIS and Research Director

Runs the department's mapping and research. Promoted from analyst; background in geography and GIScience at the University of Illinois.

Samantha Furnish

Office Manager

Manages the department office.

Sheronda Napper

Administrative Assistant

Administrative support for the department.

Shakeema Daniels

Associate Project Manager, Development Services

Works on development-services projects.

Blake Ray

Associate Project Manager, Business Attraction

Works on business-attraction projects.

The Economic Development Authority

The seven appointed board members, with the officer roles listed on the county's current page. Officers rotate.

Terri Cofer Beirne

Chair

Eastern counsel for the Wine Institute and a former McCandlish Holton attorney. On the authority since June 2007; chair since 2024. Briefly served as interim Midlothian District supervisor in 2006.

Danielle M.W. Fitz-Hugh

Vice Chair

Vice president of community relations at Richmond Region Tourism; former president and CEO of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce (2017-2023).

Robert Vaughn

Secretary

Appointed to the authority in 2023, to the seat left by Steven Micas, and listed by the county as its secretary. His term runs to June 30, 2027.

John W. Hughes

Assistant Secretary

The board's longest-serving member, on it since October 1997, now 28 years. A partner at Drake Hughes & Associates.

Faizan Habib

Treasurer

Directs the Virginia Department of Transportation's Office of Public-Private Partnerships.

Photo: Virginia DOT

John V. Cogbill III

Member

A retired McGuireWoods lawyer known for land use and real estate, and former managing partner of the firm's Richmond office. Chaired the authority from 2020 to 2023 and served as its secretary through last year. Chaired the National Capital Planning Commission from 2001 to 2009.

Jesse Calloway

Member

A certified executive coach and leadership consultant with a Ph.D. in engineering management; also an adjunct faculty member.

How this was put together. Staff names and titles come from Chesterfield Economic Development's own team page; board members from the county's boards-and-commissions page, and officer roles from the county's current authority listing. Last checked July 27, 2026.

On the officer roles. Officers rotate and published sources lag. The authority's FY2025 audited statements, covering the year to June 30, 2025, named a different secretary than the county lists today. The roles here follow the county's current listing, and Terri Cofer Beirne called the authority's March 19, 2026 meeting to order as chair. If the authority tells us a role has changed, we will correct it.

On the photographs. Every portrait here is a government-produced image from a county or state staff page. Where no public-record photo exists, initials are shown rather than a substitute, and no images were taken from LinkedIn or from any individual's employer.

Something out of date, or missing? Tell us.