Senior V.P./Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Valerie Barker Waller is responsible for identifying and creating opportunities to build the Y’s brand equity through strategic partnerships and public engagement.
She has 27 years of experience in marketing strategy, branding and integrated communications, with leadership roles in Fortune 100 companies, nonprofit and civic organizations and advertising agencies. She came to Y-USA in June 2016 after two years as V.P. of Marketing and Communications for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.
Waller previously led brand marketing communications at United Airlines, where she was responsible for global advertising, digital marketing communications and sponsorship. She joined the company in January 2010 as Managing Director of Brand Communications. For two years prior Waller served as Director of Marketing and Communications for Chicago 2016—the organization formed to deliver Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
She joined Chicago 2016 from the Museum of Science and Industry, where she had served as V.P. of Marketing and Public Relations since June 1999. She previously worked at Ameritech and Leo Burnett.
Waller earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in finance and business economics from the University of Notre Dame.
