Elly Valas, Nationwide: An Ardor for the Independent

Long before the term ‘glass ceiling’ was coined to describe impediments to the career advancements of women, Elly Valas, Nationwide’s Member Services Director, broke through the consumer electronics industry’s version of it.

Valas earned the moniker of trailblazer back in 1992, when she was named president and co-CEO of NARDA (the North American Retail Dealers Association), the electronics, appliance and furniture trade organization.

The group’s management actively recruited Valas, impressed by her more than 20 years of experience in the retail, sporting goods, CE and home appliance industries. Since then, she has built a reputation as a book author and Dealerscope columnist, and as a business consultant who is regularly sought by independent retailers of all sizes.