Val is a Partner with Hanold Associates where she specializes in recruiting executive level HR and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leaders. She has over a decade of experience in rapid-growth, private equity-backed SaaS businesses, specializing in M&A integrations and change management. She is especially strong in translating strategy to action, particularly with respect to managing change initiatives and designing and implementing DEI programs. Prior to joining Hanold Associates, Val was Global Head of Employee Engagement & Inclusion/VP of DEI at Cision, where she stood up Cision’s first DEI function. She was responsible for providing vision and leadership to Cision’s DEI strategy across the global organization. Val is a seasoned guest speaker in the DEI space and has had the pleasure of speaking on a variety of panels and fireside chats. In 2019, she was recognized with a Power50 award by the Illinois Diversity Council. Val graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Gender Studies. Val splits her time between her home base in Chicago and Las Vegas (her home away from home).