About VEDP

Experience
Prior to joining VEDP in July 2017 as Executive Vice President, El Koubi was previously President and CEO of One Acadiana, a regional economic development organization based in Lafayette, Louisiana. Under his leadership, the organization developed and successfully launched one of the most successful capital campaigns of its kind in the nation to deliver a new economic development program for the nine-parish region. Previously, El Koubi served as Assistant Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, where he led initiatives that helped secure projects creating more than 63,000 new jobs along with more than $28 billion in new capital investment, while dramatically improving Louisiana’s position in virtually every state business climate ranking.

Education
B.S., Biological Engineering – Louisiana State University
M.S., Public Policy – London School of Economics

Experience
Prior to joining VEDP in 2023, Sniffin took on a role with Amazon Web Services as Managing Director of Global Business Development, where he led global business development for the Worldwide Public Sector Business. Sniffin is a 22-year veteran of the global consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, where he advanced from Associate to Partner level. In his last role with the firm, Ted was tapped by executive leadership to transform the corporate business development function. As Executive Vice President, Sniffin led a team that set market strategy and provided market intelligence, business development, capture, and proposal leadership for the firm’s largest growth priorities.

Education
B.A., English – George Mason University
M.S., Corporate Finance – John Hopkins University

Experience
Prior to joining VEDP in January 2020 as Vice President of International Trade, Agee served as Director of Marketing and Development at the Virginia Department of Agriculture, where she provided executive leadership to develop and implement domestic and international marketing programs designed to enhance the profitability of Virginia agribusiness. Before VDACS, Agee served in multiple positions in VEDP’s International Trade Division, where she worked with Virginia companies to develop and implement international sales strategies, identify and access target export markets, and provide counsel on specific international business issues. Agee also worked for the U.S. Government Accountability Office where she analyzed international trade and security assistance programs.

Education
B.A., International Studies, Political Science - Virginia Tech
MPP, Public/Private Sector Partnerships - University of Maryland, College Park

Experience
Prior to joining VEDP, Atwal served as Global Head of Regulatory Strategy & Emerging Issues with Celanese, a global chemical manufacturer. She has extensive experience in the chemical and plastics manufacturing industries, having also served in regulatory and compliance roles with Evonik, ChemTreat, and Nomaco. In addition to her extensive industry experience, Atwal brings valuable public sector experience to the role from her eight years as Environmental, Health and Safety Director with Wake County Public Schools, the largest public school district in North Carolina.

Education
B.S., Chemical Engineering – Virginia Tech

Experience
Prior to this role in June 2022, Barnett served as VEDP's Vice President of Business Investment where he worked with Virginia’s regional and local economic development organizations to identify and convert high-potential leads and prospects into project opportunities, managed site selection projects, and supported business retention and expansion activities for existing firms. Prior to that, Barnett served as VEDP’s Vice President of Communications and Promotions, where he directed VEDP’s marketing, advertising, and communications outreach programs to build awareness of the desirability of Virginia as a business location. Barnett served more than seven years in the United States Air Force and the Virginia Air National Guard, with assignments at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Incirlik Air Base in Turkey.

Education
B.S., Mass Communications and Advertising – Virginia Commonwealth University

Experience:
Before joining VEDP in January 2024, Begnaud served as the CEO of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and its marketing arm, Lafayette Downtown Unlimited. During her tenure, more than 60 new businesses opened or expanded in downtown Lafayette with occupancy at more than 90 percent. She was an integral part of an effort to significantly increase the amount of residential space in and around downtown with nearly 200 units constructed over the past three years. Prior to her leadership at the DDA, Anita led the marketing, communications, and governmental affairs initiatives for One Acadiana, a regional economic development organization based in Lafayette, Louisiana. 

Education:
B.A., Organizational Communications — University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Experience
Before joining VEDP in May 1998, Cox served as a long-term substitute teacher with Henrico County Public Schools. Cox also spent five years with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as an Office Services Specialist in the Office of Product and Industry Standards.

Education
B.S., Psychology – Virginia Commonwealth University
M.T., Elementary Education – Virginia Commonwealth University

Experience
Prior to this role, Devan served as the Director of Corporate Intelligence at VEDP, where he identified high-growth companies for business attraction efforts through economic and financial analysis. Before joining VEDP in 2018, Devan worked as an investment banker, advising corporations and private equity firms on mergers and acquisitions. Devan served for seven years as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps, including tours to Afghanistan and the Republic of Korea.

Education
B.S., Oceanography – United States Naval Academy
MBA – University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Experience
Before joining VEDP in January 2022, Dreiling served as an account leader, senior program manager, and project manager at an engineering and construction company, where he focused his career on building major CapEx projects. As an account leader, he supported two global accounts establishing and launching numerous global service contracts. As a senior program manager, he was directly responsible for the delivery of four global industrial client programs with a total of 170 projects which were delivered with seven regional teams. As a project manager, he directly managed projects in over 15 countries valued at over $400M in construction costs.

Education/Credentials
B.S. Civil Engineering – Virginia Tech
B.S. Environmental Engineering – Virginia Tech
P.E. Professional Engineer – Virginia

Experience
Prior to joining VEDP’s Business Investment team in 2016, Goodwin previously served as Manager of VEDP's Project Research group, where she led efforts to create customized responses for client requests. Prior to joining VEDP in 1998, she was an Economic Development Manager at the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Education
B.S., Business Administration, double major Marketing and Management – University of South Carolina
M.S., Information Science – University of South Carolina

Experience
Prior to joining VEDP in March 2008, Grenell was a Finance Investment Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) managing investment balances for several PwC offices, as well as providing staff training and other special projects related to the merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand.  Prior to that, Grenell was a Finance Manager with Coopers & Lybrand (C&L), serving numerous clients in various industries and managing the internal finance functions for five C&L offices.

Education
B.S., Accounting – King’s College

Experience
Prior to joining VEDP in April 2019, Grundmann served as the Director of Manufacturing for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Prior to GDEcD, Grundmann worked in executive education for Georgia Tech and served in a variety of positions spanning a 20-year career at Georgia Quick Start, including Director of Marketing and Director of Operations. In the operations role, Mike led a team of project managers and instructional designers responsible for analyzing processes, assessing skill requirements, and designing highly customized training programs for major manufacturing and distribution operations.

Education
B.S., Business Administration/Marketing and Advertising – Indiana University
M.S., Information Systems Management – Keller Graduate School of Management

Experience
Before joining VEDP’s Research Division in 2018, Hartka spent five years with EY working in the firm’s Government & Public Sector practice. During his tenure with EY, he played a leading role delivering engagements and developing business with European Union Institutions, the French Treasury, and the African Development Bank among other clients. Hartka also previously worked as a consultant and writer for a digital communications agency and as an editorial consultant with an economic intelligence and advocacy firm.

Education
B.A., Foreign Affairs, French Literature – University of Virginia
MPA, International Public Management – Sciences Po Paris

Experience
Prior to this role in 2022, Hughes served as Network Manager at VEDP. Hughes started his career with VEDP in April 2013 as a Senior Support Technician and was later promoted to Associate Network Manager. Prior to VEDP, Hughes started his IT career at just 16, providing IT administration for a family-owned business and seeing them through significant growth and increasingly complex technology requirements.

Education
B.S., Business Information Systems — Virginia Commonwealth University

Experience:

Before joining VEDP in September 2023, Jehu was the Vice President of Business Development for Ardent Global Logistics based out of Virginia Beach. Prior to that, Jehu worked at Expeditors International, a top 10 global third-party logistics (3PL) company, for over seventeen years.  He started in the Norfolk and Richmond region as a district sales executive and held progressive roles in ocean services, order management, and business development.  He achieved his customs brokerage license in 2011 and was the Ocean Import Manager for Atlanta’s cornerstone operation, serving Georgia, Alabama, and parts of Tennessee. In his 18 years of experience working in the logistics industry, Jehu has displayed a unique ability to create holistic supply chain solutions by proactively collaborating with clients, leveraging strategic infrastructure and transportation markets, and developing cross-functional relationships.

Education:

Appointed to United States Naval Academy
University of South Carolina

Experience
Before joining VEDP in March 2023, Riley served the Commonwealth as Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade. During her tenure with the Administration, Riley played an instrumental role with several key initiatives including the development of "Compete to Win" (Comprehensive Economic Development Policy of the Youngkin Administration), the transformation plan for the workforce development system, and the strengthening of Virginia’s site development efforts. Riley has held other important roles with the Commonwealth of Virginia, including Deputy Secretary of Labor and Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General. In addition to Riley’s experience in state government, she also served as the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) State Director, where she represented the interests of Virginia’s small businesses on issues related to tax policy, labor and employment law, regulations, and healthcare.

Education
B.A., Political Science and Government — Roanoke College

Experience 
Prior to this role, Stuller joined VEDP in 2011 as a Business Development Manager focused on new and expanding businesses, with emphasis on the biosciences sector. He represents VEDP on several statewide boards and task teams for business and workforce. Before VEDP, Stuller worked for IBM Corporation in marketing and business development leadership in regional and national markets with commercial and public-sector clients.

Education
B.S., Business and Economics – Randolph-Macon College

Experience
Prior to joining VEDP in July, 2022, Wallmeyer served for over 20 years as an attorney at the Virginia Division of Legislative Services.  In that role, she staffed the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees and the House Appropriations Committee, where she worked extensively on legislation related to economic development in the Commonwealth, as well as issues related to finance, taxation, and appropriations. Over the course of her legislative career, she also staffed commissions and committees related to technology, public safety, transportation, agriculture, and the Freedom of Information Act.

Education/Credentials
B.A., Print Journalism – Washington & Lee University
M.A., Mass Communications – University of Florida
J.D. – University of Florida
Member of the Virginia State Bar