About
Valerie Gaydos is no politician. A successful business owner, certified EMT and community volunteer before she was elected less then two years ago, Valerie's commitment to getting results by bringing people together and focusing on our values has become well-known both in Harrisburg and here at home.
A third generation Allegheny Countian, Valerie learned early from her family the value of hard work, education, and giving back. 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, and another uncle, (Tom Gaydos), taught at Robert Morris for 30 years. While still in high school, Valerie became a Certified EMT and volunteered on Valley Ambulance.
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.
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.
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.
