Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the appointment of Ellen Marie Hess as the new commissioner for the Virginia Employment Commission.
Hess was previously appointed Deputy Commissioner at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by Governor McAuliffe. She oversaw the agency’s legislative, legal, and policy functions, as well as the Highway Safety Office.
Hess has been with dmv since January 2008 and has more than 20 years’ experience in policy and regulatory functions in state government. Prior to her service at DMV, she was the Director of Labor and Employment Law at the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and a Staff Attorney with the Virginia Department of Taxation.
She also gained private sector experience as In-house Counsel at Heilig-Meyers Furniture Company.
Hess received a bachelor’s degree with honors from Virginia Commonwealth University and a juris doctor from the University of Richmond.