Demetrios Melis

Applying agility and innovation to government, Mitch is a dynamic public sector executive leader with a strong record of driving transformations at private sector speed resulting in significant operational and customer service improvements. Understanding the necessity for the public sector to merge IT and business strategy has resulted in dramatic organizational advancements in digital transformations by leveraging proven change and project management strategies. Appointed by Governor Youngkin in January 2022 as Director of the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Mitch achieved significant legislative and operational accomplishments within his first two years at DPOR. In October of 2023 Governor Youngkin appointed him Commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) to further advance the Governor's initiative for a responsive, efficient and customer-focused unemployment insurance system. Since being named Commissioner, the VEC has increased online initial claims filing by 114%, reduced contact center call volumes by 80%, eliminated capacity call deflections and improved nationwide U.S. Department of Labor state rankings from 53rd to 20th for first pay and 53rd to 15th in nonmonetary determination.