MEET OUR TEAM

Orca’s strategists possess a unique combination of experience, competencies, and professional networks, allowing us to deliver results for a variety of client types in multiple sectors.

CHRIS DAVIDSON

Founder & Lead Strategist

Chris began his business career working in direct sales around his studies at James Madison University. He was a top producer and popular speaker at regional & national sales conferences.

He went on to hold management and executive roles in the sectors of finance, technology, and commercial real estate.

Despite being told “don’t reinvent the wheel," Chris discovered a knack for redesigning business processes and packaging them into simple, duplicatable systems. This led to him founding his own consulting company in 2012.

Chris has a passion for leadership and community service. He has served on numerous public and private boards including the Newport News Education Foundation, Newport News Citizen's Advisory Board, Fort Monroe Planning Board, and the Home Educators Association of Virginia.

He has served as President of eight organizations, including the York County Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Newport News, and Hilton Village Main Street Inc.

In recognition of his service, Chris was named to Hampton Roads' "Top Forty Under 40" by Inside Business Magazine in 2014.

Due to his extensive background in community service and public policy, the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce contracted Chris to serve as the Chamber's head lobbyist in the Virginia General Assembly, a role which he greatly enjoys.

For over a decade, Chris has been involved in the business start-up ecosystem, serving as emcee for start-up competitions including “Start Peninsula” and “Virginia Shark Tank”. He also works with local high school entrepreneurship programs, serving as a student mentor and pitch competition judge.

Chris lives in beautiful York County, VA, with his wife, Melissa, and their three children.

MELISSA DAVIDSON

Partner & Lead Analyst

Melissa's diverse career background, coupled with her strong mind for planning and analysis, gives her a unique advantage for evaluating business challenges and creating growth plans to overcome them.

Melissa is experienced in local government, economic development, business startups, general business development, marketing, and retail management.

Most recently, she was Assistant Director of Economic Development for York County, VA, where she served in various roles over 18 years. Prior to that, she headed up business development and marketing for Collier Aerospace, a software firm specializing in structural sizing and optimization.

Melissa is passionate about helping businesses grow and thrive. She has fostered strategic partnerships and has created award-winning assistance programs to benefit York County’s small and home-based businesses.

Melissa is active in the community, serving on leadership teams, boards, and committees for various organizations. In 2001, Melissa graduated from Christopher Newport University and earned her master’s degree in public administration from Troy University in 2007. Today, she lives in coastal Virginia with her husband, Chris, and their three children.