Tretina, Davies named YWCA 'Outstanding Women Awards' honorees
YWCA Richmond will recognize some of the region’s most accomplished women leaders May 12 at its 46th Outstanding Women Awards, an event celebrating women who are making a significant impact across business, education, nonprofit leadership, and community service.
This year’s honorees include Henrico Economic Development Executive Director Cari Tretina and Markel Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Sue Davies, as well as six other women from Metro Richmond.
Tretina began her role with the Henrico EDA in January after nearly 15 years with Henrico government. She first joined Henrico in 2011 through the county’s internship program and became a full-time budget analyst in the Finance Department in 2013, then advanced through roles in the County Manager’s Office, Henrico Fire, and Recreation and Parks before being appointed chief of staff to the county manager in 2019.
She later served in an expanded role as deputy county manager, where she led various redevelopment, infrastructure, and economic initiatives.
A lifelong Henrico resident and graduate of J.R. Tucker High School, Tretina earned a bachelor of arts in political science and public relations from Eastern Kentucky University and a graduate certificate in public management from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Wilder Graduate School.
She is a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond, the Metro Richmond Public Safety Leadership Academy, Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, and the University of Virginia’s LEAD Program.
Davies has more than 35 years of experience leading talent strategy and organizational transformation across the insurance, manufacturing, and retail sectors. In her current roles for Markel, she oversees teams responsible for HR, communications and brand, community engagement, and workplace experience.
Davies has guided major initiatives including the company’s Future Ways of Working strategy, a global brand refresh, and a significant restructuring of U.S. and Bermuda insurance operations. Under her leadership, Markel has earned recognition as both a "Top Workplace" and a "Great Place to Work," and she was honored with the Richmond Times Dispatch Top Workplaces Leadership Award in 2025.
Her career also includes leadership roles at CarMax, MeadWestvaco (now Smurfit WestRock), and AstraZeneca. Davies holds degrees from Birmingham University and Portsmouth University and advanced leadership programs at CCL and Harvard. She also serves on the board of UZURV and contributes to nonprofit organizations such as the Children’s Museum of Richmond, the YWCA, and the Blue Sky Fund.
In addition, she is a fundraiser for the Project Athena Foundation and an alumna of Leadership Metro Richmond.
Details about each honoree can be found on the YWCA Richmond website.
The awards event, scheduled May 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, will bring together more than 600 leaders from throughout the Greater Richmond region to honor women whose work is helping shape a stronger, more equitable community.
Purchase tickets for the ceremony at ywcarichmond.org/owa.
