Valerie Richardson has over 35 years of experience in retail real estate, working for brands such as Ann Taylor, Barnes & Noble and most recently, The Container Store, where she has led the real estate team for nearly 18 years. An active industry participant and advocate, Ms. Richardson was recently elected Chairman of the ICSC for the 2018-2019 term, after having served on that 70,000+ member global retail real estate industry trade organization’s Board of Trustees since 2004. She is the first ICSC Chairman to come to the post from an active retail company.
In her role at The Container Store, Ms. Richardson is responsible for site evaluation and lease negotiation, along with the coordination of store design and construction for the brand’s nationwide expansion program. Prior to joining The Container Store, Ms. Richardson served as Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Development for Ann Taylor, Inc., where she administered the store expansion strategy of both Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. She also previously worked as Vice President of Real Estate and Development for Barnes & Noble, Inc. Ms. Richardson began her real estate career at the Dallas-based development company Trammell Crow Company; she became a Partner in the firm in 1987.
Ms. Richardson currently serves on ICSC’s Executive Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee and, most recently, on the Board of the ICSC Foundation. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Kimco Realty Corp., one of North America’s largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers.
Ms. Richardson served as a Trustee at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano from 2010 – 2016. Ms. Richardson earned an M.B.A. in Real Estate from the University of North Texas and a B.S. in Education from Texas State University. She is a co-author of the industry publication “Winning Ways in Commercial Real Estate: 18 Successful Women Unveil the Tips of the Trade in the Real Estate World.”
She resides in Dallas, Texas; is married, has two children, and best of all, a granddaughter.