Board of Directors - Janna Naylor
Janna Naylor is President of Naylor's Ace Hardware, a third-generation family-owned and operated business with locations in Oakland, Maryland, Cumberland, Maryland, and Elkins, West Virginia.Ms. Naylor started her professional career at the Denver Veterans Administration Medical Center and University of Colorado Medical School and the Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Diego as a chemist conducting medical research on metabolism and obesity.
In 1981, Ms. Naylor left the world of science (and cities) to return to her rural hometown, Oakland, Maryland to work in the family business. She rose from assistant manager of the Oakland store to manager, general manager and finally president, in 1988 on the retirement of her father, Arthur E. Naylor, Jr. Since joining the company, she has helped to grow the business to include 3 larger Ace Hardware stores, A.D. Naylor's Contracting, Culligan Water Conditioning and Naylor's Commercial Sales, a division that delivers to customers in two Maryland counties and seven West Virginia
Ms. Naylor has been involved in health care and health reform issues out of concerns about the escalating cost of health care for her employees. On April 8, 2009, she was one of two small business owners participating in the first Health Reform Stakeholder's discussion held at the White House.
In addition to serving on MDCALA's board, Ms. Naylor is on the Board of the Maryland Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business where she is on the Leadership Council. She is also on the Ace Power Equipment Advisory Council and was a member of the Ace Retailer to Retailer Communications Team in 2002-2004. She is also the newly appointed Co-Chair of Oakland's Main Street Design Committee.
Ms. Naylor is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in chemistry. She also attended graduate school on a National Science Foundation Fellowship at the University of Colorado.
