Valerie Frias

Valerie Frias is the Chief Executive Officer of Ethos and is responsible for providing vision, leadership, and direction for the organization’s thriving programs, services, and activities for older adults and disabled individuals as well as, overseeing Ethos’ strategic direction, organizational status and reputational well-being.

Ms. Frias has more than 20 years of professional experience and most recently was the Executive Director of Greater Boston PFLAG, the local chapter of a national organization which advances LGBTQ equality through support, education, and advocacy. There she helped increase the organization’s revenue, expanded staff and programs as well as, led several successful statewide advocacy campaigns.

Prior to PFLAG, Ms. Frias served in leadership roles at the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (CDC) where her focus was on building public-private partnerships to serve the local community. There she oversaw a portfolio of nearly 500 units of affordable rental property, home to over 1000 residents and represented the organization in major private and institutional development projects with Harvard University, New Balance and Boston Community Capital, to support the development of community benefits that reflect the diverse needs of the community.

In addition to her work at the Allston Brighton CDC, Frias served as Policy Director for Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley, Senior Health Policy Analyst for the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, General Counsel for state and federal legislative committees, Counsel to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, as well as several other campaign roles and private law practice experience over the course of her career.

Valerie Frias earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Northeastern University School of Law in 1999 and her B.A. in History and German, cum laude, from Tufts University in 1994. In her free time, Ms. Frias volunteers as a rights advocate for individuals with disabilities. She lives in Brookline, MA with her two children.