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Trey Childress

PartnerMiami

Helps public-sector executives achieve a step-change in performance for their teams and the government operations that they lead

Trey is a partner focused on public-sector transformation. He supports public-sector clients in achieving improvements in efficiency, customer experience, and organizational health, leveraging extensive experience in over 20 states.

Before joining McKinsey, Trey served as the deputy governor and chief operating officer (COO) for the state of Illinois. In that role, he led executive branch operations and transformation efforts for a government in deep financial and operational distress. He previously served as COO for the state of Georgia for Governors Perdue and Deal, where he led operational improvements across the enterprise helping Georgia achieve recognition as the “Best Managed State” during this time. Before he served as COO, Trey was the director of the Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget, leading the state of Georgia through the depths of the Great Recession, sustaining its AAA credit rating and improving its overall financial risk profile.

As director of policy and senior advisor to Governor Perdue, he led advisors and aides toward the development, passage, and implementation of over 30 key initiatives in education, economic development, environment, transportation, public safety, and tax policy.

Published Work

Deploying generative AI in US state governments: Pilot, scale, adopt,” McKinsey & Company, February 2024

Governors-elect have transition teams. What about their cabinets?,” McKinsey & Company, June 2022

The state transformation mandate during COVID-19,” McKinsey & Company, June 2020

US coronavirus relief funds: A guide for state and local governments,” McKinsey & Company, April 2020

PAST EXPERIENCE

State of Illinois
Deputy governor
COO

State of Georgia
State COO
Director, Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget

EDUCATION

Cornell University
MBA, business administration

Georgia Tech (Georgia Institute of Technology)
MBA, public policy
BS, industrial and systems engineering
BS, international affairs