Business Breakfast

Description

Christopher E. “Chris” Piper was appointed Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections in January 2018. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University, Chris began his career in elections and government ethics as a manager of a large trade association’s federal PAC before leading the Virginia State Board of Elections’ Campaign Finance Division. He then served as a political compliance consultant for a multi-national law firm before he returned to the State Board of Elections to manage the Election Services Division. In 2014, Chris became the Commonwealth’s first executive director of the Virginia Conflict of Interests and Ethics Advisory Council. Today, Chris leads the Department of Elections with a focus on election security and the uniform application of laws, regulations, and policies and defending the integrity of the Commonwealth’s elections at a time when the administration of elections in the country is under more scrutiny than ever before.

Chris is an avid long-distance runner and triathlete who has completed eleven marathons and is a certified running coach. He mostly enjoys relaxing with his wife, two teenagers, and two pit bull rescue pups. Fun fact: Chris spent a lot of his teenage years following the Grateful Dead and other bands around the country. What a long strange trip it’s been!

Cris Watkins serves as the Louisa County General Registrar/Director of Elections. She has served in this capacity for 20 years, since 2001. Prior to becoming the General Registrar Cris worked in the banking industry. Cris has a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech.

Cris and her husband Trey live on the family farm in the Bells Crossroads area of Louisa County where they have raised their three sons. Cris is looking forward to becoming a Grandma this fall.