Charles Hartgrove

Charles Hartgrove, ICMA-CM, has a diverse work experience in public service and government. Charles is currently serving as the Managing Director of the Virginia Institute of Government at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. In this role, they are responsible for the operations, leadership development, research, consulting services, and training programs of the institute, which aims to build good governance, equity, and resilience across the Commonwealth. Prior to this, Charles served as the Director and Associate Director of the Virginia Institute of Government.

Before joining the University of Virginia, Charles worked as the Chief Deputy Commissioner at the Virginia Department of Taxation. In this role, they served as the agency's chief administrative officer and senior advisor to the Tax Commissioner, overseeing fiscal and general services, strategic planning, and interagency collaboration. Charles also led special projects and served on committees related to the gig economy, worker misclassification, and local government issues.

Charles has also held positions in local government, including Deputy City Manager for the City of Lynchburg, where they were responsible for the operations of multiple city departments. Charles has also served as the Town Manager for the Town of Ashland and the Town Administrator for the Town of Middleburg. In these roles, they managed municipal organizations, budgets, and staff, focusing on community development and administrative functions.

Earlier in their career, Charles served as the Town Manager for the Town of Gate City and gained experience as a Regional Planner Intern at the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission. Charles also interned at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

Charles Hartgrove's work experience showcases their expertise in leadership development, strategic planning, and governance capacity building.

Charles Hartgrove, ICMA-CM, has a diverse education history. Charles obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Government with a minor in History from The University of Virginia's College at Wise in 1997. In 2013, they pursued a Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificate in Public Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. Later, from 2014 to 2017, Charles obtained a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Additionally, they attended the University of Oklahoma in 2015 for an Economic Development Institute program. Charles has also earned several certifications, including the Credentialed Manager/ICMA-CM from the International City/County Management Association and the Senior Executive Institute from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. Charles has pursued various emergency management courses from FEMA and participated in leadership and governance programs, such as the ICMA Gettysburg Leadership Institute and the Virginia Executive Institute. Charles has attained certifications in areas like Conflicts of Interest and Innovative Governance of Large Urban Systems, further enhancing their expertise in the field.