Valerie Conn
Valerie Conn is a seasoned sales and business development professional based in Dayton, Maryland. She currently serves as Director of Sales for Gray Rock Professional Alliance while also working in business development within the elder care sector at elder.Care. In addition to her corporate roles, she is actively involved in the senior care and nonprofit community, building partnerships, strengthening client relationships, and supporting organizations that serve vulnerable populations. She is also the founder and long-time manager of a volunteer-based animal rescue initiative, Pampered Paws Rescue.
Her career spans more than three decades across sales, customer service, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Maryland College Park, she began building a diverse professional path that includes roles as a flight attendant, manufacturer’s representative, retail and antique reseller, and territory sales manager. She spent over a decade running her own antiques and home décor business, specializing in sourcing, restoring, and reselling secondhand goods. More recently, she has focused on tech sales, government contracting support, and elder care services, with an expanding interest in nonprofit and workforce reintegration initiatives, including upcoming work with Second Chance.
Throughout her career, Valerie’s work has been guided by a strong commitment to relationship-building, sustainability, and service. She prioritizes meaningful, mission-driven work that connects people with resources in elder care, supports animal welfare through rescue and TNR efforts, and promotes environmental responsibility through reuse and repurposing initiatives. Her professional approach emphasizes empathy, networking, and long-term client relationships, reflecting a consistent dedication to both community impact and ethical business practices.
• University of Maryland - BA
• Women's Network (Maryland)
• Pampered Paws Rescue Inc.
• Second Chance
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to leading with empathy, building genuine personal connections, and actively listening to understand how best to support my clients and community members.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to lead with empathy. When building personal connections in the community, it’s important to remember that we are all human and that we all need each other. My success in sales has come from approaching clients as people first, taking the time to understand their needs, and focusing on how I can truly help them. A great deal of my work is rooted in strong listening skills, which allow me to identify the best ways to serve others and build meaningful, trust-based relationships.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to lead with hard work and empathy. Stay committed, be willing to learn, and consistently show up with a strong work ethic, even when challenges arise. Just as importantly, approach every interaction with empathy—take the time to truly understand people, listen with intention, and build genuine relationships. Success in this field comes from balancing dedication with the ability to connect with others on a human level.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field include finding appropriate in-home care for seniors due to a shortage of qualified caregivers and the high cost of care, which can make services unaffordable for many families. In the repurposing and thrifting side of my work, there is also the challenge of creatively transforming old items into something valuable and functional while managing the business side of marketing and sales through platforms like social media and Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, staying current with constantly changing design trends is essential, as styles that were once popular—such as painted furniture—fade over time, while older, darker antique pieces often cycle back into demand.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are, in order, the environment, animals, and people. Caring for the environment comes first because it is our shared home and requires our collective responsibility and protection. My second priority is animals, as they do not have a voice and depend on humans to advocate for their welfare; I have been an animal welfare advocate for 35 years, beginning in college. People are also important, and while they are able to advocate for themselves and improve their circumstances, I believe meaningful work should always align with purpose-driven values. I am deeply committed to environmentalism and focus on reuse and repurposing to reduce landfill waste, as well as supporting prevention efforts such as TNR and promoting spaying and neutering to address pet overpopulation.
Locations
Gray Rock Professional Alliance, LLC
Dayton, MD 21036