Henrico chief of staff Carrie Morgan Tratina to lead county economic development; board honors her service

County officials on Jan. 13 publicly thanked Carrie Morgan Tratina for more than a decade of service and announced she will join the Henrico Economic Development Authority as its next executive director.

County manager recounted Tratina’s career path — starting as an intern in June 2011, advancing through roles including budget analyst, division director in fire administration, chief of staff and deputy county manager — and highlighted her work on economic-development agreements, infrastructure projects and pandemic response. The manager credited Tratina with helping the county distribute more than 160,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to first responders, school staff and the public and noted her role in negotiating the county’s purchase of a 2,095-acre property along the James River.

"She has had a meteoric rise to the top of this county's government because of her talent and work ethic," the county manager said of Tratina. The manager also listed projects Tratina led or helped advance, including redevelopment agreements, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and sports-tourism initiatives.

Tratina, who the manager said had served as the county's first chief of staff and later as deputy county manager, told the board she considers Henrico home and thanked mentors, colleagues and family. "A little less than half, 44% to be exact, of my life, I have worked for Henrico," she said, and described the move to the EDA as "a new chapter serving the community who made me the woman I am today."

The board accepted Tratina’s resignation from at least one commission (the James River Juvenile Detention Center Commission) during the meeting and offered thanks and best wishes. Several board members spoke in praise of her public service and urged continued community engagement at county meetings.

What to watch - Tratina will transition to the Henrico Economic Development Authority as executive director; the board expressed support for her new role. - The board listed earlier accomplishments tied to Tratina’s leadership: distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund financed by data-center revenues, negotiation of major land purchases and contributions to an improved bond rating.

Details from the meeting - Vaccination support: "more than 160,000 shots" attributed to county efforts in early distribution (manager's remarks). - Property: county negotiated purchase of a 2,095-acre property along the James River (manager's remarks). - Affordable housing: the chair noted 271 homes approved through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and 58 employees who qualified for down-payment assistance.

The board’s public recognition was ceremonial; no change to county staffing rules or compensation was approved at this meeting related to the announcement.