Chief Admin. Officer
Sam Nixon is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
PUF was delighted at the opportunity to travel to Richmond virtually to visit the home of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The Commission is a unique regulatory body with authority over utilities, insurance, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, railroads, and well, a long laundry list. No wonder the Commission employs over six-hundred Staff.
PUF's Lori Burkhart: Talk about your unique role at the Commission.
Sam Nixon: I have oversight of the business functions of the Commission. As an independent agency within the Commonwealth, we don't rely on any of the central service agencies for business functions. Therefore, our reach is broader than a traditional state agency such as a DMV, DOT, or Department of Social Services, and similar.
For example, we manage our HR, IT, and InfoSec Divisions independently. We're responsible for managing our own facility, including security. Our strategic plan reflects that independence, and we approach talent management, technology, and modernization with an eye on attracting top-shelf professionals such as lawyers, engineers, and accountants. The breadth of business functions that we concern ourselves with is broader for that reason.
PUF: As Chief Administrative Officer, what is a typical day like for you?