by James Doe
For decades, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce has been a pillar of policy and economic advocacy — a force both steady and essential.
And in recent years, under the leadership of Barry DuVal, that force has transformed.
What was once a chamber with hundreds of member businesses now connects with tens of thousands. Its influence, reach, and budget have expanded five- to six-fold.
Under Barry’s guidance, the Virginia Chamber became one of the most influential policy-shaping bodies in the Commonwealth — not by accident, but by tireless, deliberate stewardship.
Now comes a new chapter. Not a break — but a continuation.
Cathie Vick — a William & Mary alum with over 20 years of service to the Hampton Roads community — has been appointed President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
It’s the kind of announcement that, on the surface, might blend into the noise of leadership transitions.
But for those paying attention, it signals something deeper: a quiet reordering of who we believe in — and who believes in us.
Vick’s tenure at the Port of Virginia and her steady presence across Hampton Roads — from her work in the Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to her Directorships at Virginia Natural Gas and the Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy — speak to a kind of leadership that doesn’t just move the needle; it rethreads the very fabric.
Cathie’s arrival doesn’t come with spectacle.
She’s arriving with receipts: bridges built, silos softened, regions remembered.
Her rise is symbolic in the best way.
It suggests that Hampton Roads is not just another footnote in the Commonwealth’s story, but a catalyst.
And it hints that the Virginia Chamber may continue its trajectory of growth — now with a new kind of resonance — one that builds on Barry’s legacy by weaving even more tightly the threads that connect Virginia’s diverse regions.
This is more than one person’s ascent.
It’s a cue for every chamber, council, and coalition in Hampton Roads.
We are allowed to believe in each other. We are allowed to act like we’re on the same team.
Because we’ve seen what belief can build — and we’re not done building.
If we take that cue, the transformation won’t need to be loud.
But it will be heard.
And it will last.
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**Editor’s Note**
This article was updated following a conversation with Chris Davidson, founder of Orca Strategies, whose mentorship and institutional insight helped refine the tone and context of this piece. Chris’ reflections on Barry DuVal’s monumental contributions reminded us that leadership transitions are not just moments of change — they’re moments of continuity.
What we celebrate in this piece is not a reset, but a relay — one steward passing the torch to another, with care, with credibility, and with Virginia’s future in mind.
