Charles Hartgrove

Charles W. Hartgrove, ICMA-CM, is the managing director of the Virginia Institute of Government (VIG) at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.  He is responsible for VIG's operations, leadership development, research, consulting services, and training programs.  The Cooper Center strives to build good governance, equity, and resilience across the Commonwealth and beyond. VIG serves local governments, state agencies, and other entities by providing a portfolio of partnerships and best practices to help communities and organizations build governance capacity, develop leaders at all levels, and provide policy and operations solutions.  

VIG is the home of the Senior Executive Institute (SEI) and Leading, Educating, and Developing (LEAD) professional development programs for local government leaders from across the country. VIG also partners with the UVA School of Data Science to host the Virginia local government Equity Clinic. VIG provides administrative support and conference planning services for the Virginia Local Government Management Association (ICMA affiliate). The Virginia Government Finance Officers Association, Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia, and Treasurers Association of Virginia also rely on VIG to provide training and certification programs. VIG provides facilitation, strategic planning, organizational development, DEI, and other consulting services to state and local government elected officials, senior executives, and organizations.

Prior to joining the Cooper Center staff, he most recently served as the chief deputy commissioner of the Virginia Department of Taxation. He served as the agency’s chief administrative officer and was responsible for the organization’s strategic plan. He led special projects and served on several committees for the Governor and Secretary of Finance's offices regarding the gig economy, worker misclassification, and local government issues.

Charles worked as a senior executive for Virginia local governments for over twenty years. He served as the deputy city manager of Lynchburg and as the town manager of Ashland, Middleburg, and Gate City. He is an International City/County Management Association Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM). Charles previously served on the Executive Committee of the Virginia Local Government Management Association (VLGMA).

Charles obtained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in government, from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He also received a Master of Public Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Senior Executive Institute, the Virginia Executive Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.  

Charles, a lifelong Virginian, was born in Portsmouth, raised in Gate City, and currently resides in Richmond.