Chris Van Orden is an International Trade Specialist at the Virginia Small Business Development Centers at George Mason University, supporting Virginia exports with a particular focus on the food and beverage industry.  Previously, Mr. Van Orden served as Manager of Marketing and Beer Strategy at Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Company, where he guided new product releases, developed operational processes, and provided strategic growth insights for one of Virginia’s largest craft breweries.  In that position, he established a successful export program, with Port City‘s products sold into four international markets.

Mr. Van Orden arrived in the DC area in 2008 as a Presidential Management Fellow at the US Department of Education’s Budget Service.  In that role, he oversaw over $1 billion in Federal funding for higher education programs, ensuring regulatory compliance across more than a dozen program areas.  He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, dog, and cat.