JANE WESMAN, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER

Jane Wesman is the creative force behind the public relations agency that bears her name. An expert on public relations and marketing, she is the author of Dive Right In - The Sharks Won't Bite: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Guide to Success, called "a clear and concise blueprint for the tasks of operating a business" by The New York Times.

Wesman is a hands-on strategist who is deeply involved in every project that her company undertakes. Her signature campaigns include book launches for such prominent authors as Stephen R. Covey, Marcus Buckingham, Keith Ferrazzi, Charles Schwab, Tosca Reno, Sandra Brown, and Rich Lowry.

Before starting her agency, Wesman served as publicity director of St. Martin's Press, Grosset & Dunlap, and then Harry N. Abrams, where she launched dozens of bestselling books, including James Herriott's All Creatures Great and Small, Richard Nixon's Memoirs, and Robert Redford's The Outlaw Trail. She has also worked with many artists and museums including David Hockney, Helen Frankenthaler, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Wesman's articles on business and marketing have appeared in such publications and on such websites as American Bookseller, Inc., Professional Performance, Enterprising Women, foxbusiness.com, and womenentrepreneur.com. Wesman is also a frequent guest on television and radio.

The opening speaker at the 2009 Summit for the National Women's Business Council, she has lectured at the Womensphere Leadership & Innovation Conference, the Stern School of Business, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the Learning Annex, among other venues. She is currently Vice President of Programs for the New York City chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Jane Wesman earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Journalism at Simmons College in Boston. She has served as Treasurer of the Publishers Publicity Association; as Program Chair and as a Board Member of the Women's Media Group; and as Program Committee Chair of ArtTable. She has also donated her time and marketing expertise to such organizations as Learning Through Art, Performa, CityArts, and the Goddard Riverside Book Fair for the Homeless.

LORI AMES, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Lori Ames, who grew up on Long Island, received her degree in English from Hofstra University where she also studied speech and communications. She began her publicity career at Jane Wesman Public Relations in 1980. After more than three years with the agency, Ms. Ames joined William Morrow, where she remained for six years, advancing to the position of publicity director. During her tenure with William Morrow, she worked with such authors as David Halberstam, John Irving, Gail Godwin, Richard Bach, and Tina Turner.

Returning to Jane Wesman Public Relations in 1991, she was named vice president a year later. Ms. Ames has since handled books by such authors as William J. Bennett, former Secretary of Education; trend forecaster Faith Popcorn; journalist Bob Greene; bestselling novelists Lucian K. Truscott IV, Sandra Brown, and Howard Fast; and sports luminaries Bob Gibson and Charles Haley.

Her projects include the business book phenomenon Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, DiMaggio: Setting the Record Straight by Morris Engelberg and Marv Schneider, Alberto Giacometti: Myth, Magic, and the Man by Laurie Wilson, and Me & Bobby D. by Steve Karmen. In addition to her expertise in book publicity, she has developed campaigns for companies such as Tom's of Maine and launched Bowker's booksinprint.com website. Her specialties include producing television satellite tours and implementing online publicity.