This Day in Henrico History: Oct. 2 – Henrico names its first county-manager chief of staff

On Oct. 2, 2019, Henrico County announced that Cari M. Tretina would become the first chief of staff to the county manager, creating a new position intended to support the county’s top administrator on special projects and coordination across government.

Tretina, whose appointment was to take effect Oct. 12, had been Henrico’s Division of Fire director of administration since April 2017. She joined the county full time in 2013 as a budget analyst and later worked as a management specialist in the County Manager’s Office. Her Henrico experience began even earlier through county internships in the Department of Finance in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Henrico said the new chief of staff would handle research and data analysis, help prepare speeches and presentations and work on other assignments for the county manager. The job also called for collaboration with the Board of Supervisors, department heads and other officials, as well as liaison work with residents, elected officials, regional partners and other government agencies.

At the time of her appointment, Tretina held a bachelor’s degree in political science and public relations from Eastern Kentucky University and had completed leadership programs through the Metro Richmond Public Safety Leadership Academy and the University of Virginia. The appointment added a new role to the administrative structure surrounding Henrico’s county manager.

Sources: https://henrico.gov/news/2019/10/henrico-taps-tretina-for-chief-of-staff-position/