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A native Tennessean, Deborah Varallo graduated from Baylor University in Texas. After college, she was employed in marketing and sales positions. During this period, she became active in a multitude of charities where she developed a vast network of media contacts, which led to the establishment of Varallo Public Relations in 1991.

Deborah’s responsibilities at Varallo Public Relations include client development, client retention, media relations, media training, crisis management, and community relations. In addition, she provides seminar training on such topics as social media marketing, corporate networking, techniques for business prospecting, leadership/mentoring and public relations and marketing. Deborah has been featured in the national press discussing her expertise in marketing; the firm has won a number of professional trade honors.

Deborah is board chair for Leadership Middle Tennessee, a ten-county leadership organization devoted to regional leadership. A graduate of Leadership Nashville and Leadership Music, she serves on each of their Planning Committees and provides ongoing public relations support. She chairs The Davidson Group, an organization that brings people of different ethnic, social and economic backgrounds together. She presently serves on the boards of Rotary Club of Nashville, Tennessee State Fair Association, YWCA of Middle Tennessee, T.J. Martell Foundation’s Business Leaders Council and Cumberland University’s Business Advisory Board.

Deborah chaired the Leadership Nashville Alumni Association and the Leadership Middle Tennessee Alumni Board and was president of Leadership Middle Tennessee’s 2004 class. Additional boards included: The Women’s Fund, Catholic Charities of TN, Charis Health Center, Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM), the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee and WIN. She twice chaired CNM’s Salute to Excellences Awards Dinner and thrice chaired and emceed the Nashville Area Chamber’s Future 50 Dinner. She continues to be a presenter for the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law program and for local universities.

She served as Community Chair for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee, co-chaired the Celebration of Mission to Service fundraiser for Catholic Charities of Tennessee and St. Mary Villa Child Development Center, and is extremely active in St. Stephen Catholic Community. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum’s Tennessee Chapter and was honored by the Women’s Political Collaborative of Tennessee for her community service.

A few of her honors include: WIN’s Legacy Award, CABLE’s Civic Outreach Award, Nashville Business Journal’s ‘Woman of Influence’, Oyster Queen for Oyster Easter to benefit the Community Resource Center, Davidson County Women of the Year, Clara Barton Award (highest volunteer award given by American Red Cross), Volunteer of the Year (Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce), Who’s Who in the World, Jan Van Eys Humanitarian Award (highest honor from the Cumberland Valley Hemophilia Foundation), and the President’s Cup (Highest National Honor of the National Association for Professional Saleswomen).

She is married to Jim Varallo, owner of the business brokerage firm Varallo Investment Properties. They have a 25 year-old daughter, Mary Kathleen Varallo, who is the Communications Manager for Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. They live in Old Hickory TN.