Valerie Markgren is the mother of three adult children, Chase, Rane and Brandie. She holds a B.A. in Communication from the University of Southern Maine. In 1995, she moved from Lowell, MA (a short way from her childhood home of Westford) to Old Orchard Beach, ME to live in a house near the library that her mother loved. Shortly after the move, Valerie was fortunate enough to find work right up the street at Loranger Middle School where she stayed for seven years. She is currently working quite contentedly as the Office Manager at the venture capital firm of North Atlantic Capital in Portland.

Throughout her career, Valerie has become skilled in the areas of public relations, corporate communication, community relations, system administration and marketing. She previously served as the Executive Assistant to the Publisher and was later promoted to Marketing Manager at the Portland Press Herald newspaper.  Most recently, and while not sewing quilts, Valerie has become dedicated to the creation and implementation of the Working Dog Farm website. She calls herself a “weekend web warrior.”

Her love of dogs was not cultivated at an early age as she was raised in a house full of cats. The members of her family always had two each – “a cat and a spare” -- at all times. She loved them and particularly cared for a gray kitten born with one deformed claw that she named Christopher. Valerie’s admiration for pups took hold as a married adult with a wonderful Collie/Shepard/Husky mix named Captain Kirk.

A few dogs later and no longer married, Valerie became the surprised “mom” of a Border Collie/Jack Russell mix (a.k.a. BorderJack) named Colleen.  This was a surprise because most people would think it odd that a person would drive all the way to Vermont to adopt a dog that bites its owner upon first meeting. Regardless, Valerie saw something in this spitfire of a dog and promptly renamed her Ripley (for the Sigourney Weaver character in Aliens).

True to form, Ripley tried to eat Dan upon first meeting; and subsequently, Dan’s dog Shadow, as well. However, it didn’t take long for Dan to warm up to this Tasmanian devil, as she truly is a loving and sweet little girl. Shadow promptly -- and ever so gently -- squashed her with his big paw to show who was boss. She adapted quickly and the two became fast friends.

Valerie is now living happily in Standish with Dan, Ripley and her new little brother, Mojo. She is excited at the prospect of moving into a real farm and raising more Border Collies.