Bethesda, MD (January 4, 2016): The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), the nation’s leading organization representing people with hearing loss, is pleased to announce the recent hire of Valerie Stafford-Mallis, who joins HLAA as the director of chapter development. In this role Valerie will be responsible for providing the leaders of HLAA Chapters with the direction they need to effectively deliver the HLAA mission to their members and respective communities. “As a person who lost my hearing during my working years, I have experienced firsthand the struggles faced by people with hearing loss to maintain employment, independence and full participation in public life,” said Valerie. “HLAA changed my life. I fully support HLAA’s mission to open the world of communication to persons with hearing loss. I believe the local chapters and the state organizations are the foundation of the information, education, support and advocacy that HLAA offers. I pledge to use my knowledge, skills and abilities gained from working in the public and private sectors to provide the leaders of HLAA Chapters with tools and support they can use in delivering this mission. Together we can make it happen.” In her new role, Valerie will serve as the primary link between HLAA’s resources at the national office and chapter leader needs. Her primary focus will be to help leaders sustain healthy chapters while growing HLAA memberships. She will help those who want to start new chapters and provide leadership training, online resources, and programs geared to chapter members and the local community’s needs. Prior to joining HLAA, Valerie was the business development manager for Alternative Communication Services (ACS), LLC. She recently served on the HLAA Board of Trustees, is a member of the HLAA Sarasota/Manatee Chapter, and has been a major supporter of the HLAA Walk4Hearing. She is also a member of the Association of Late-Deafened Adults and has served on the ethics committee of the National Court Reporters’ Association (NCRA). She earned her master’s of business administration degree from Webster College and lives in the Tampa Bay, Florida area with her husband Sam. Valerie Stafford-Mallis can be reached at vstafford-mallis@hearingloss.org. About the Hearing Loss Association of America The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), founded in 1979, opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support. HLAA produces the Walk4Hearing® in 22 cities across the country, publishes the bimonthly Hearing Loss Magazine, holds annual conventions (Convention 2016 is in Washington, DC, June 23 - 26), advocates for the rights of people with hearing loss, conducts educational webinars, and has an extensive network of chapters and state organizations across the country. For more information, visit www.hearingloss.org. |
