Henrico Chief of Staff Tretina named executive director of Henrico EDA

The Henrico Economic Development Authority has appointed Cari M. Tretina to be its next executive director, effective Jan. 1.

Tretina has served as Henrico’s chief of staff since 2019 and in an expanded capacity that includes deputy county manager since 2022. Among her accomplishments for Henrico, she has collaborated with EDA on dozens of agreements and initiatives to attract jobs and investment to Henrico, while also enhancing business opportunities and livability in the county. 

She currently leads the Best Products Reimagined project to attract a major mixed-use development with an arena serving the region along Interstate 95 at Parham Road. Her efforts also have covered extensive agreements for development, redevelopment, infrastructure and transportation as well as purchase and incentive agreements for projects that include Virginia Center Commons, Regency, Henrico Plaza, Striker Park, Scott Farm, Glenwood Farms, Prep Baseball Report/Glover Park, Frank J. Thornton YMCA Aquatic Center, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Rocketts Landing.

“Cari brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership and innovation,” said Edward S. Whitlock III, chair of the EDA Board of Directors. “Her dedication to Henrico County is unrivaled, having consistently demonstrated her commitment to the community’s growth and well-being throughout her career. We are confident that her vision, relentless drive and passion for fostering strong community relationships make her the ideal leader to guide our efforts in this new chapter. We look forward to collaborating with Cari and are excited about the future that lies ahead for Henrico County under her capable leadership.”

Tretina will succeed Anthony Romanello, who is retiring in January after leading EDA since 2019 following his service as deputy county manager for Administration and later Community Services. 

“Cari is an incredible talent whose energy is contagious,” said Henrico County Manager John A. Vithoulkas. “She has worked on nearly every major redevelopment project and every major initiative our county has completed over the past six years. She has been a trusted copilot for me, and Cari is going to flourish in this role. I relish the thought of watching her run laps around localities we compete against nationally. Cari has an incredible heart, but she also has a steel-trap mind that is going to benefit our county for years to come.”

The EDA is responsible for attracting business growth and investment in Henrico, which has more than 353,000 residents, 25,000 businesses and 200,000 jobs. Overall, the county represents the fourth largest economy in Virginia.

The EDA is overseen by a 10-member board of directors, has a staff of 11 and a budget of $2.6 million for fiscal year 2025-26. The agency receives operating support from the county but remains independent of Henrico’s government.

Tretina is a graduate of J.R. Tucker High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and public relations from Eastern Kentucky University. She also holds a graduate certificate in public management from the L. Douglas Wilder Graduate School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University and participated in the Senior Executives in State and Local Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In addition, she is a graduate of the Metro Richmond Public Safety Leadership Academy and the University of Virginia’s LEAD Program. 

Among her other accomplishments, Tretina has:

• led Henrico’s efforts to support the expansion of the NOVA Aquatics Center-Regency to bolster sports tourism and to establish the $60 million Henrico Affordable Housing Trust Fund;

• guided efforts to establish Nourish Henrico, a short-term initiative that helped county restaurants manage the sudden loss of business at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic;

• overseen Henrico’s efforts to provide more than 160,000 shots of the COVID-19 vaccine to first responders, school personnel and the public before it was widely available at pharmacies and doctors’ offices;

• negotiated the county’s purchase of the 2,095-acre Varina Farms property along the James River;

• established Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team (HEART), which is advancing public- and private-sector solutions for sustainability;

• led policy reviews across county departments and worked with the Henrico Board of Supervisors to implement major projects and initiatives;

• served as acting county manager during the county manager’s absence. 

• served as interim director of the Division of Recreation and Parks and previously worked as director of administration of the Division of Fire.

Tretina joined the county’s staff in 2013 as a budget analyst and later worked as a management specialist in the County Manager’s Office. As a student, Tretina participated in the county’s internship program, working with the Department of Finance in the summers of 2011 and 2012 and the winter of 2013.