Renee Valdes

Renee joined Jackson Spalding after 12 years as a business journalist. Most of those years she spent covering the retail world as a reporter and columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C., a career that put her in touch with virtually all of the top consumer brands. She also covered general business news with both the Washington and Raleigh Business Journals. That is a long way from her start penning wedding announcements for The Washington Post and serving as personal assistant to journalism legend Sally Quinn.

Her diverse background also includes experience as Fundraising Manager for the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as editor of the Private Sector Council’s newsletter, and time spent learning the ropes at an advertising agency.

Renee holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Marymount University and a master's degree in Journalism from American University. She is fluent in French, which came in handy during her time as producer for the French Television network TF-1, and Spanish, which she learned after meeting her husband Gustavo, a photojournalist with Fox 5 WAGA-TV.

She is a member of the Atlanta Press Club and serves on the planning committee for the International Council of Shopping Centers Southeastern chapter where often she is tapped as a panelist. Renee also volunteers with the Atlanta Urban Land Institute and serves on its communications committee.

Renee and her husband are avid travelers who have recently logged many frequent flyer miles in pursuit of their beautiful daughter, Sofia. The baby gear is a happy addition at airport checkpoints.