Valerie Barker Waller

Valerie Barker Waller is the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for YMCA of the USA. A seasoned marketing professional with marketing strategy, branding and integrated communications experience across a variety of brands and industries, Waller is currently responsible for creating opportunities to strengthen the Y brand through strategic marketing and communications efforts, national partnerships, public engagement and collaboration with YMCA locations across the country. Waller came to Y-USA in 2016 after leading local marketing and communications for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Prior to joining United Way, she led brand marketing communications at United Airlines, served as Director of Marketing and Communications for Chicago 2016, and also held leadership roles with the Museum of Science and Industry, Ameritech and Leo Burnett. A Chicago native, Waller was recently appointed to the Roosevelt University Board of Trustees.  Her civic and professional leadership has included board membership with Chicago Community Land Trust, Women Employed and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in Chicago, in addition to national work with the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and the Ad Council. Waller was honored as a 2013 "Top Women in Advertising and Marketing" by Black Enterprise Magazine. In 2009, she was named an Honored Role Model by Heroes in the Hood and a Women of Excellence by the Chicago Defender. As an active member of the National Black MBA Association, Waller was named Chicago Chapter “Member of the Year” early in her career.