Jo Ann S. LeSage Nelson, APR, Fellow PRSA
Jo Ann LeSage Nelson, APR, Fellow PRSA, is vice president of client services for Pierce Communications, an Albany-based public relations/public affairs/crisis management firm where she is responsible for strategic public relations and communications counseling for Pierce clients. She is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America in the Capital Region, having demonstrated broad knowledge, experience, competence, and professional judgment in the field.
In 2020, Jo Ann was selected for membership in PRSA’s College of Fellows, an honor that signifies and celebrates meaningful work accomplished, long-lasting impact made, and dedication shown to PRSA, the profession and her community. In 2019 she completed five years on PRSA’s national board of directors, serving on the Executive Committee in 2019. She also served as a member of PRSA’s Human Resources, Strategic Planning and Advocacy committees.
Before joining Pierce Communications, Jo Ann worked as a vice president at Sawchuk, Brown Associates in Albany where she counseled a wide variety of corporate, not-for-profit, education and association clients. Prior to that, she served as vice president of communications and government relations at the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she played an instrumental role in the creation, development, and implementation of the initiative to brand the region as Tech Valley. In November 2008, PRSA’s Capital Region (NY) Chapter presented Jo Ann with its first Outstanding Public Relations Practitioner Award, given to a public relations professional who has achieved exceptional success, displayed the highest ethics, and is dedicated to serving the community and the profession.
Jo Ann currently serves on the board of directors of The Food Pantries for the Capital District and is a past board chair of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce and a former board president of Literacy New York Greater Capital Region.
In 2020, Jo Ann was selected for membership in PRSA’s College of Fellows, an honor that signifies and celebrates meaningful work accomplished, long-lasting impact made, and dedication shown to PRSA, the profession and her community. In 2019 she completed five years on PRSA’s national board of directors, serving on the Executive Committee in 2019. She also served as a member of PRSA’s Human Resources, Strategic Planning and Advocacy committees.
Before joining Pierce Communications, Jo Ann worked as a vice president at Sawchuk, Brown Associates in Albany where she counseled a wide variety of corporate, not-for-profit, education and association clients. Prior to that, she served as vice president of communications and government relations at the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she played an instrumental role in the creation, development, and implementation of the initiative to brand the region as Tech Valley. In November 2008, PRSA’s Capital Region (NY) Chapter presented Jo Ann with its first Outstanding Public Relations Practitioner Award, given to a public relations professional who has achieved exceptional success, displayed the highest ethics, and is dedicated to serving the community and the profession.
Jo Ann currently serves on the board of directors of The Food Pantries for the Capital District and is a past board chair of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce and a former board president of Literacy New York Greater Capital Region.