IDA Ambassador – Colorado

Valarie Rose Johnson concurrently serves as the Editor at Large for Colorado Builder magazine. She has also successfully held the positions of publisher, editor and author for local, regional, national and international publications, including: Denver Life Magazine, CompanyWeek, Successful Living, You Can Heal Your Life Column – Hay House Publications, ColoradoBiz, Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine, HR Success, Health ONE, Colorado Ballet, LaTeen, La Voz, El Semanario, Fitness Lifestyles, Benefits Selling, Lupus Foundation of Colorado and Emerging Markets.

Valarie was a television news anchor in Spanish for five years for Telemundo in Denver, CO, live, general assignment reporter/weekend anchor for KENS TV/CBS affiliate in San Antonio, TX, on-air host for PAX-TV, on-air talent for CATV-Denver, producer for the City and County of Denver television station, StudioStars, GarceWorks, Doublejay Productions, Director of Education for Colorado Media School and writer/talent and producer for pieces airing on ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, TBS, Independents, Univision and PBS.

Additionally, she was a disc jockey, scriptwriter, producer and spokesperson in English and Spanish for live radio stations and audio/video production houses, including KBNO – Qué Bueno, KHOW, GarceWorks Productions, Universal Sound Productions, Quantum Media, Air Force Training Video Division, Dynamic Solutions International, Tennis in the Zone Productions, KFFR – Radio Fuego, Studio Stars, Atkins Agency, Jergins & Associates International Broadcasting, Travel Talk airing in Puebla, Mexico and the Secretary of Tourism of Mexico.

Her work has garnered several awards and accolades, including membership in the Authors Guild, Cambridge National Honor (Professional Excellence), Magnum Opus Award, Gold (Magazine Design) Silver (Editorial Content) for Successful Living Magazine, Folio Award – National Publication Award (Best Table of Contents), Telly Awards for Mexico Secretary of Tourism, first place in the Arizona Film Festival on behalf of Doublejay Productions, Best Television Announcer by Periodico El Sol for anchoring news in Spanish and the Bureau of Land Management’s award – Contribution to the Hispanic community. She also received certification by the Latin American Research and Service Agency for cross-cultural communication.

Valarie was diagnosed with lupus in 1999 and knows firsthand what it is like to deal with an invisible illness. Her mission is to share the mission of IDA and her story to help facilitate education, encouragement and connection with others so that invisible illnesses and pain can be seen as the real challenges they are. 

She attended the University of Colorado at Denver as a Regent’s Scholar, the University of Sedona – (nonsecular) and Arapahoe Community College (degree in Business Administration). She is a member of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Author’s Guild, Nonfiction Authors Association, Author’s League of America and the Women Speakers Association.

Valarie is a Colorado native and enjoys hiking, traveling, meditating, kayaking, teaching and practicing restorative yoga (certified instructor), reading, being in nature and spending time with her husband, grown children, parents, extended family and friends. She is passionate about helping others, mindful communication and discovering how we are all connected.