Anna Valent

Anna is an honors graduate of the University of Florida (UF) with degrees in Psychology and Public Relations. Anna is currently the Executive Director of Athletes for CARE, a global nonprofit focused on leveraging the influence of current and retired professional athletes to impact positive changes in health, wellness and safety for all. Anna’s prior professional experience includes five years as an entrepreneur starting three companies, nearly a decade with the JAX Chamber including four years as Vice President of Operations. Her expertise includes event management, information technology, facilities management, innovation, downtown engagement, board development and strategic planning. In 2005, Anna started the ImpactJAX program to help young professionals in Jacksonville become involved in the community and increase the likelihood they will stay in Northeast Florida. Anna implemented a concept she created called “Downtown’s New Front Door,” a $3.5 million renovation project to reinvigorate the JAX Chamber’s facilities and inspire revitalization in downtown Jacksonville. Prior to her work with the Chamber, Anna was the Regional Manager for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In that capacity, she worked with families in crisis and created meaningful experiences to help them cope with the life-threatening illness of a child. While at UF, Anna was a world ranked distance freestyle swimmer, a four-year letter winner and the 2002-03 co-captain on the Gator Women’s Swim Team. She achieved Scholastic All-America and All-SEC honors all four years and received honors for her instrumental leadership and performing beyond expectations. Anna and her team were the 2002 SEC Women’s Swimming Champions. In 2009, Anna was one of the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 under 40 and is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville. She was Vice Chair of the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission and served on the Art Selection Panel for Art in Public Places. Anna served for several years on the board of the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP). Currently, Anna serves on the board of HACAA and is Walkathon Chair for the Friends of Hendricks. In addition, she has volunteered with her church, Habijax, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Shands at University of Florida Arts in Medicine, the American Red Cross, the Jacksonville Humane Society’s Pawfessionals and the American Cancer Society. Additionally, she served as a high school special education tutor. Anna is a Gator booster, lifetime member of both the UF Alumni Association and the Gator Splash Club and an F Club member. Anna was born in Winston-Salem, NC and spent eight years in the Atlanta area before moving to St. Simons Island, GA. Anna and her husband, Kevin, live in Jacksonville, FL and have three daughters.