The Greater Richmond Partnership (“GRP”), the lead regional economic development organization serving the City of Richmond and counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico in Virginia, announces that Mitchel Allen-Rivera is the new Executive Vice President of Business Development.
“I am thrilled to welcome Mitchel to Greater Richmond to lead business development,” said Jennifer Wakefield, President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership. “He is a rockstar economic development professional with a stellar reputation and has repeatedly been recognized among the best in the industry.”
Allen-Rivera is relocating to Greater Richmond, Va., from Phoenix, Ariz., where he has worked as the Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) for nearly a decade in roles of increasing responsibility. In addition to his time at GPEC, he worked at the local level in the City of Chandler, Ariz., and as a manager in the financial services industry.
“I am truly honored to be joining such an exceptional team of professionals under Jennifer Wakefield’s leadership,” said Allen-Rivera. “Richmond is an amazing community full of talent and I am eager to contribute to the region’s future development.”
Allen-Rivera has a bachelor’s degree in communication from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing a master of business administration (MBA) from the University of Denver. He has been recognized twice among the Top 50 economic developers in North America by Consultant Connect, been named as a top 40 under 40 professional in economic development by Development Counsellors International and the International Economic Development Council and as Economic Developer of the Year by the Arizona Association for Economic Development.