GPLEX 2025 Chicago

Valerie V. Gay (Val Gay®) is a Creative, Certified Financial Planner, non-profit administrator, recording and performing artist and thought leader. Val is a recipient of several grants in support of her creative projects, including awards from the Leeway Foundation, Black Music City and Philadelphia Cultural Treasures.  

In 2024, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker appointed Val as Chief Cultural Officer for the City of Philadelphia, Executive Director of Creative Philadelphia (formerly the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy), and a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet. For 20 years Val has held leadership positions across several sectors, including Deputy Director and Chief Experience Officer for the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, where she oversaw public programming, community engagement and family programming and the combined front line and security team, Executive Director of Art Sanctuary in Philadelphia, Assistant Dean for Institutional Advancement for the College of Education at Temple University and Vice President and Portfolio Manager with PNC Advisors where she managed investment portfolios of high-net-worth individuals and family trusts.  

A serial entrepreneur since 2006, the companies and organizations Val leads have at their core improving the lives of others, and includes an arts nonprofit, business consulting and a lifestyle apparel brand. Val is also an active civic leader, serving on the board of directors for several Philadelphia and New York-based nonprofit organizations. In 2019, Val received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from St. Joseph’s University and has earned a Professional Studies Certificate and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of the Arts and completed degree course work at Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. 

Danielle DiLeo Kim, AIA, is an accomplished urban designer and civic leader known for delivering complex projects that drive lasting impact. As founder of DDK Urban Consulting, she draws on over 25 years of experience in architecture, planning, and nonprofit leadership to shape equitable, resilient, and culturally rich communities. 

Danielle has led strategic planning and design initiatives for major public, institutional, and cultural organizations including the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, Temple University, Fairmount Park Conservancy, and PIDC where she’s guided interdisciplinary teams and multi-million-dollar projects from vision to implementation. Her expertise spans urban design, stakeholder engagement, and organizational strategy. 

As President & CEO of PHILADELPHIA250, she transformed the city's national anniversary initiative into a platform for civic renewal, mobilizing diverse partners and raising support for community-driven legacy projects. She currently serves as the 2025 President of the American Institute of Architects Philadelphia, advocating for public-interest design and policy. 

A Harvard- and Virginia Tech–trained architect, Danielle has been recognized with state-wide honors for her social impact. She is an active member of the Urban Land Institute and The Carpenters’ Company, and a champion for women’s leadership. 

Danielle lives in Fairmount with her family, finding joy in biking, painting, and making cities better for all. 

Donna embarked on her entrepreneurial journey in the mid-1980s, founding Team Clean as a means to support herself after graduating from Wilberforce University. What started as a means to make ends meet for her and her daughter quickly evolved into a passionate pursuit. Her first commercial contract in 1985, with the Upper Main Line YMCA, ignited her love for the industry and revealed her natural aptitude for business. 

Over the course of more than 40 years, Donna has transformed Team Clean into a highly respected and prosperous institution in Philadelphia. The company, under her leadership, has secured a strong reputation and amassed a multi-million-dollar valuation. Team Clean has provided cleaning services to a wide range of prestigious locations, including the National Constitution Center, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Kimmel Center, and Citizens Bank Park, the renowned home of the Philadelphia Phillies.  

Donna’s exceptional work with Team Clean and her unwavering dedication to the community have garnered her numerous awards and honors. Among the esteemed recognitions she has received are the U.S. Small Business Administration Small Businessperson of the Year award, Pennsylvania Best Women In Business award, Smart CEO Corporate Culture award for Social Responsibility, Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, the District Minority Small Business Person of the Year award, the Harriet Tubman Trailblazer Award, the National Freedom Day Community Service Award, the City of Philadelphia’s Supply, Service, and Equipment Award, the Main Line Martin Luther King Jr. Association’s Business Leadership Award, The Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction Award, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Paradigm Award and the Philadelphia YMCA Honors award. These prestigious accolades underscore her remarkable achievements and contributions. 

Team Clean’s ongoing growth and success can be attributed to Donna’s wealth of knowledge, steadfast dedication, and investment in her employees. Her astute leadership has fostered a culture of excellence within the company, propelling its expansion year after year.