Chris Davidson (’01) is President and Lead Strategist of Orca Strategies, a Virginia-based consulting and public affairs firm bridging business strategy, public policy, economic development, and civic engagement. Through Orca, Chris advises and represents businesses, associations, policymakers, municipalities, and other organizations on complex policy and strategic initiatives. His work focuses on initiatives related to economic development, skilled trades and workforce development, regional competitiveness, emerging technology, digital infrastructure, energy, education, and business climate. 

Chris has held leadership roles across numerous business, civic, and nonprofit organizations, having served as President or Chair of eight boards. He was appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to the Fort Monroe Authority Board of Trustees, (term ended February 2026), and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Civic Leadership’s Political Leaders Program (PLP) at the University of Virginia. At James Madison University, he previously served on the advisory board of the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship and currently serves on the Investment Committee for the Bluestone Seed Fund. As a student at JMU, Chris was President of the university’s chapter of the American Marketing Association. He earned his B.B.A. in Marketing from JMU in 2001. Chris resides in historic Yorktown, Virginia with his wife Melissa and their three children.