Meet Diana Dobin | CEO, Chief Sustainability Officer & Change Management Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana Dobin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
People really get connected to places and hotels when they travel – especially if they stay for longer than a few days or return back for multiple visits. The design and curation of the fabrics and textiles in small boutique properties and the largest resorts create an emotional response to the spaces for which they have been selected. The Valley Forge team focuses on making an impact through the projects we work on as well as within our community. As our business success has grown we see our opportunity and responsibility to support the needs of Children and Disadvantaged Youth, Minorities, Women and the Homeless. We also collaborate with and support Educational institutions in the communities where we work and live. Maya Angelou said that “People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did, But people will never forget how you made them feel.” This is my favorite quote and a message that I prioritize in all my interactions with others. It is also a message that carries through the work that Valley Forge Fabrics does. A hectic business traveler may not remember exactly how the bedding looked, but they will remember how how soft the linens are and how restored they feel when they wake up refreshed. A family staying in a hotel room might not recall the color of the drapery fabric, but they will appreciate that the light and cold was kept out enabling a restful sleep. Our company mission is to impact the happiness of others – and we do this in many ways that we take very seriously.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Today Valley Forge Fabrics is respected as the premier supplier of decorative performance textiles and textile products & services for hotels worldwide. The business is known as a sustainability steward and leader in textile innovation and customization. I never could have imagined when I started my career as a curly haired young woman in Hong Kong – with nothing but a yellow pages and a sample case full of fabrics – that the business would evolve and grow into what is it today. Like most 22 year-olds, I thought I knew everything and quickly learned that I knew nothing! Unlike other business people in Hong Kong in the early 1990’s, I was female, I was young, I was white and my hair made me stand out from the crowd. In my first few months in Asia, I dragged that huge sample case to anyone and everyone who had anything to do with interior design and hotel procurement. It wasn’t easy to sell Made in the USA textile products in Asia, but that’s exactly what I was there to do. 5 years later when I returned to New York, Valley Forge was an internationally respected textile brand. I brought that same passion and energy to my subsequent roles in the business over the next 20 years and have had the great opportunity to weave beauty, art and design into my daily responsibilities of leading people. Ultimately Valley Forge is a creative, dynamic business that makes wonderful products that touch people’s lives. It is the connection between people and the beautiful healthy products we create that fuels my soul.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I tend to be a homebody. We designed our house to be calm – it’s all white walls, grey floors and white drapery. The numerous windows and doors allow the outdoors in and we even have a garden atrium in the middle of our house. It’s beautiful and peaceful and my favorite place to be is the window seat in my kitchen. My husband and I have a thing for great coffee and great wine – and we are also very particular about mugs, cup and utensils. I love a perfectly round spoon. We like to brew our own coffee each morning and begin our mornings together sipping the warm goodness for a just a few minutes before the busy day starts. We enjoy great red wines and my husband always writes my name – he uses a different font each evening – on my glass – using a dry erase pen. I have photos of every creative way he has written “Diana” on my glass and I treasure that album like a piece of artwork. I really enjoy long walks on the beach at sunset and practicing yoga each morning. Kitchenetta and Even Keel are two of my favorite restaurants in Fort Lauderdale – and they also let us pick up dinner and bring it home. Wynwood and the Miami design district are two places we love to go. We enjoy art, design and diverse interesting people – and you can find all three there!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My story is the story of a beautiful expansive passionate encouraging adventurous family. My husband Steve is my greatest love and biggest fan. We have been together for over 25 years and together we have 3 amazing children who have always supported their hardworking Mom and never made me feel like I missed anything. My parents, Dan & Judy Dobin, who founded Valley Forge Fabrics in 1977 taught me that I could be both a hippy and a successful business leader. The family also includes my siblings: Mikey, my brother and Co-CEO ; Allie, my sister who lives in DC and serves as Sales Manager; and my sister Danielle– who doesn’t work in our family business but who loves the company and has always encouraged my personal success through her deep love and care. We’ve always said “sisters & brothers are best friends forever”. My family extends to so many members of the Valley Forge Family – people I have worked side by side with for many years. They are the special people who chose to join our family and I am eternally grateful for each of them.

Website: www.valleyforge.com
Instagram: @valleyforgefabrics AND @curlyfabricqueen
Linkedin: @Valley Forge Fabrics AND @Diana Dobin
Twitter: @vffabrics
Facebook: @valleyforgefabrics
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ValleyForgeFabrics