About VEDP

Experience
Before 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
In these roles she provides leadership and oversight of programs designed to support Virginia companies in growing their international sales and oversees the agency’s human resource, information technology, and fiscal and support services. Before starting this role in July 2022, Agee served as Vice President of International Trade since January 2020. Prior to this, she led marketing and development activities at the Virginia Department of Agriculture, developing and implementing innovative domestic and international marketing programs and economic development strategies designed to enhance the profitability of Virginia agribusinesses.

Previously 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
Barnett previously served as VEDP’s Vice President of Communications and Promotions, where he led the marketing program. Before joining VEDP in 2001, Barnett served as Marketing Manager for HHHunt Corporation in Glen Allen, Virginia, where he was responsible for marketing efforts at Hunting Hawk Golf Club. 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 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 VEDP, Devan worked as an investment banker, advising corporations and private equity firms on mergers and acquisitions. Prior to investment banking, he 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

Goodwin previously served as manager of VEDP's Project Research group, leading efforts to create customized responses for client requests before being tapped as AVP of VEDP's Business Investment division in 2016. 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
Before joining VEDP in March 2008, Bob 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, Bob 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

Before joining VEDP in April 2019, Grundmann served as the Director of Manufacturing for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Prior to GDEcD, Mike 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, European Studies, Research Methods – Sciences Po Paris

Experience

She leads VOEE’s efforts to use research and data to inform program, policy, and partnerships in education and workforce across the Commonwealth. Prior to coming to VOEE, Heather was the founding director of the Education and Employment Research Center at the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her research areas include workforce development programs, education and workforce policy, student success, student decision making, and non-degree credentials.

Education

B.A., Bryn Mawr College
M.A., history and global affairs - Rutgers University

Experience
Before joining VEDP in April 2017, Melançon led economic development marketing efforts at Louisiana Economic Development and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. During her tenure at LED, she modernized the Louisiana brand for business, managed all components of the organization’s marketing and communications program, and created innovative tools for regional and local partners. Lori has also worked for two advertising agencies, managing relationships with economic development and private-sector clients. 

Education
BGS., English, History, and Political Science – Louisiana State University
M.S., Occupational Technology – The University of Houston

Experience
Stuller joined VEDP in 2011 and previously served 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