Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade
Carrie Cantrell
Carrie Cantrell was appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell as Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade in 2010. In this role Carrie oversees policy development and implementation as well as assists in managing the secretariats 13 agencies. During the Governor-elect’s transition, Carrie was as an adviser on economic development issues coordinating business recruitment and business development initiatives.
Carrie has over 17 years of public policy and communications experience at the state and federal level. Prior to joining the administration, Carrie was President of her company Capitol Square Communications and as Principal of Rhumb Line, a government affairs firm. Carrie also served as Executive Director of the State Government Leadership Foundation and as Senior Advisor for the Republican State Leadership Committee, working with state officials on issues that challenge executive branch officials, legislative leaders, attorneys general and the private sector.
During her career, she has appeared in state, national and international media, including the Washington Post, Washington Times, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Investor's Business Daily, Politics Magazine, "Perspectives" in Newsweek Magazine and on FOX News “Strategy Room.”
Carrie served as Press Secretary for U.S. Senator George Allen, whom she worked for from 1993 to 2003, and as Policy Director for the gubernatorial campaign of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore. She was as a member of the Government and Community Affairs Board of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors of the Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Carrie attended Hillsdale College and is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
