Biography
C. Ray Davenport
Commissioner of Labor and Industry
In March of 2002, Commissioner Davenport was appointed by Governor Mark Warner as Virginia’s Commissioner of Labor and Industry. He was reappointed to his position by Governor Tim Kaine in January, 2006.
For 14 years prior to joining the Commonwealth, Commissioner Davenport was Business Manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 147. He served as Chairman of two joint labor/management Taft-Hartley Benefit Trust Funds and was involved in the administration of a state certified apprenticeship program.
Commissioner Davenport began work in the construction industry as an apprentice crane operator, graduating as a journeyman in February of 1977. He worked as a crane operator for 12 years. Commissioner Davenport currently holds a crane operator certification to operate all types of cranes from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. He served as President of the Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council, and as a Board member of the South Hampton Roads Workforce Investment Board, Opportunity, Inc. Commissioner Davenport holds a M.S. degree from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, and a B.A. degree from Antioch University.