Steve Harrison joined the Hampton Roads Alliance in June 2019. Initially serving as Vice President of Business Intelligence & Communications, in September 2022 he began serving as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Steve assists President & CEO Doug Smith with developing, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives while also managing operations, marketing, real estate solutions, and business intelligence efforts.

Steve previously served as Research Director for the Alliance from 2010-2012.  Between that time and his return to the Alliance in 2019, he served as Business Development and Research Manager for Virginia Beach Economic Development.  During his tenure with the city, he significantly enhanced the way Virginia Beach positioned itself as a business destination through the creation of a variety of new portals and documents, including the Virginia Beach Community Profile, websites, and a first-of-its-kind iPad App. His work garnered four International Economic Development Council (IEDC) awards.  He also served as a creator and lead of the VABeachBio biomedical business development initiative and on the board of 757Accelerate.

Steve is a Hampton Roads native with extensive experience in Economic Development.  He is a two-time graduate of The College of William & Mary, with both a Bachelor’s in Government and a Master’s in Public Policy. He is actively involved in the community and served as President of the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) in 2021.  He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement and as a member of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC).

Steve was named among the Inside Business “Top 40 Under 40” in 2021. He and his husband, Phil, reside in Virginia Beach.