News Flash

Goochland County is pleased to announce a re-organization of staff in senior level leadership positions with Josh Gillespie and Sara Worley as the County’s Deputy County Administrators serving in new roles.  

The appointments of these key senior leaders are a result of the work taking place as a part of County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley’s entry plan unveiled on July 1, 2025, including the identification of staff strengths and goals for key leadership positions.  In an effort to gain a greater understanding of status and expectations for Goochland County, Dr. Raley met with representatives from the greater community including both internal and external stakeholders to understand the critical issues impacting Goochland that represent barriers and opportunities associated with the accomplishment of the county’s objectives.

Following an extensive recruitment that included over 30 candidates, Sara Worley has been appointed to serve as the Deputy County Administrator for Economic and Community Development with responsibilities in both economic and community development, including planning and zoning, utilities, building inspections, transportation, environmental, and customer service.  The County will immediately begin recruitment for a new Director of Economic Development.

“I am looking forward to continuing my career serving the citizens and customers of Goochland County. I am extremely honored to work alongside the talented employees of the community and economic development departments.” said Sara Worley, Deputy County Administrator for Economic and Community Development.

Worley began her career in Goochland County in 2005 where she worked various positions within the Community Development department, often times enhancing the efficiency and transparency of the various processes. In 2016, Sara was promoted to the Customer Service Center Manager position where she oversaw the reorganization of the entire department to create a one-stop shop for permitting in Goochland County. Using the knowledge built in Community Development, Sara transitioned into Economic Development in 2018 where she used her skill set to create Goochland’s first business retention and tourism programs and has been actively involved in over $700 million dollars of commercial investment in the County since 2021, including lead recruitment and project manager for Amazon’s recent investment in Goochland.

Worley also led the County in the implementation of a new online permitting software system that transformed the permitting process by allowing online submission and credit card payments. Her work on this project resulted in Goochland County receiving the Tyler Excellence Award for the implementation of the Enterprise Licensing and Permitting system (EP&L).

Worley holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from University of Richmond and possesses an Economic Development Certificate from Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute. Sara lives in Goochland with her husband and son.

Josh Gillespie will serve as the County’s Deputy County Administrator for Operations with responsibility for support the work of parks & recreation, public affairs, human services, animal protection & control, information technology, and the assessor.  He will also serve as the liaison to other partner agencies and support special projects as assigned.  

“Goochland County is blessed with a team of dedicated, creative, and passionate people. I am excited to lead excellence in operations in this new role.” said Josh Gillespie, Deputy County Administrator for Operations.

Gillespie joined Goochland County in 2024, serving as the sole Deputy County Administrator providing guidance and support regarding operations and ongoing initiatives in community development, parks & recreation, and managing county-wide special projects, in addition to providing operational support to the County Administrator.  He brings a wealth of experience in local government and public service which will benefit him as he oversees an expanded and diverse portfolio of departments.  

Gillespie came to the County with over twenty years of experience in public service with localities and a state authority.  Prior to coming to Goochland, Gillespie served as the Director of Community Development for Louisa County, the Director of Planning and Development Services for Orange County, and as a Planning and Special Projects Administrator for Chesterfield County.  In addition, he has consulted on community planning, historic preservation, and led construction projects in Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, and the District of Columbia.  Gillespie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Furman University in history and political science and is an AICP Certified Planner. Josh lives in Goochland with his wife, daughter, and son.

The re-organization of the county’s senior leadership staff leverages the professional skills and experiences of these two leaders to further the county’s mission to provide high quality services in an efficient, effective, and accountable manner.  Dr. Jeremy Raley, County Administrator noted, “These appointments will allow our team to strengthen the experiences and opportunities we are able to provide to the businesses, visitors, and residents who call Goochland home.  In addition, the alignment with our economic development and community development teams will allow for a more seamless integration of this critical work in our community.   I am excited to have these two talented professionals serving our community and leading their teams in these new roles.”   

Gillespie and Worley will officially begin their new roles within Goochland County on August 18, 2025.