Who is Valerie?

Valerie Gaydos is no politician. Before being elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives she was a successful business owner, a certified EMT and active community volunteer. Valerie’s commitment to getting results by bringing people together and focusing on our common values has become well-known both in Harrisburg and here at home.

While both sides of the political spectrum want to engage in social culture wars that only seek to divide people and distract us from the real menace of inflationary government policies, Valerie has been hard at work delivering results for you and your communities so you can keep more of your hard earned money!

Valerie’s Story

Growing up in western Pennsylvania,  a third generation Allegheny Countian, Valerie learned early from her family  the value of hard work, education, and the importance of community.  Her father (Edward Gaydos) was a local Dentist; her mother (Martha) owned a consignment shop; her uncle, (John Gaydos), was a doctor who delivered babies at Sewickley Hospital, while another uncle (Ted Gaydos) started Nationality Days in Ambridge in 1967 and yet another uncle, (Tom Gaydos) taught at Robert Morris for 30 years. While in high school, Valerie became a certified EMT and volunteered for Valley Ambulance.

After graduating from college in 1989, Valerie worked for U.S. Senator John Heinz before following her dream of owning her own business. Over the last 25 years, she ran successful companies and became a well-known start-up business advocate and Angel investor who has helped small business succeed and create jobs across the country. Valerie went on to serve as the first woman President of the Pennsylvania Angel Network.

Today Valerie works closely with veteran-owned start-up companies. She is a Board Member of Standing Firm, Guardian for Honor Flight Network Veterans Outreach, Red Cross volunteer and is dedicated to dog rescue.  Valerie will always put our families and communities first.

Professional Background

After graduating from Dickinson College, Valerie followed an entrepreneurial path that would lead her to starting her own information publishing company in 1994. She went on to invest in other start-up companies and later guided other entrepreneurs as President of the PA Angel Network and the Director of the PA Private Investors Network. She also founded Entrepreneurs for Growth to advocate for inventors and those founding their own businesses.

Human Experience

Like so many of us, Valerie has also been touched by tragedy in her life. She lost her husband, Bruce E. Johnson, to lung cancer in 2002. More recently her mother, Martha, passed away after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. Caring for her loved ones through these difficult times has given Valerie a very unique perspective when it comes to healthcare issues in the state legislature.

Personal Comittment

Today, Valerie uses what she’s learned throughout her life to fight for our communities as State Representative. In Harrisburg, she has become known as a no-nonsense legislator who brings people together to get results. From standing up for taxpayers to standing up to liberal special interests who would threaten our Constitutional Rights and way-of-life, Valerie is a strong voice for everyone who calls our area “home.”

​Continuing her commitment to volunteer service, Valerie currently serves as a Board member for Standing Firm – an organization aimed at ending partner violence; as a guardian and advisor for the Pittsburgh Honor Flight Network which helps take veterans to Washington, DC to tour war memorials; and is a member of Firearm Owners Against Crime.(FOAC) Valerie is also an avid outdoor enthusiast and nature lover who gives her time as a volunteer with a local dog rescue.

Valerie Cares

Valerie has always shown compassion for others, serving as a family caregiver for both her late husband, Bruce, who died of cancer, and recently for her mother, Martha, who suffered with Parkinson’s Disease for over 15 years, in addition to being a Certified EMT with Valley Ambulance Authority, Valerie cares about people. She understands our concerns and knows we must do better. This is why we can trust Valerie as our State Representative.