JANE WESMAN, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
Jane Wesman is the creative force behind the public relations agency that bears her name. The author of Dive Right In - The Sharks Won't Bite: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Guide to Success, which The New York Times called "a clear and concise blueprint for the tasks of operating a business," Wesman is an expert on public relations and marketing. Her articles have appeared in such magazines as Inc. and American Bookseller, and she has been a frequent guest on television and radio. In 1980, she founded Jane Wesman Public Relations, a firm serving the publishing and art worlds.

Having worked as publicity director of St. Martin's Press, Grosset & Dunlap, and Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 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 such renowned artists and museums as David Hockney, Helen Frankenthaler, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. As head of Jane Wesman Public Relations, she has been the mastermind behind some of the company's most successful and far-reaching publicity programs, working with such publishers as Random House, Simon & Schuster, Warner Books, Wiley, McGraw-Hill, and Penguin.

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, an organization of professional women in the arts. She has also donated her time to such organizations as Learning Through Art and the Goddard Riverside Book Fair for the Homeless. Wesman has taught at the Learning Annex, the American Woman's Economic Development Corporation, and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

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 recent 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.

LAUREN BANYAR, PUBLICITY MANAGER
A graduate of the University of Maryland's School of Journalism, Lauren Banyar joined Jane Wesman Public Relations in early 2005. Lauren's past experience includes time spent in the entertainment and special events world. She has worked with such artists as composer Marvin Hamlisch, comedian Dennis Miller, and Broadway star Betty Buckley, and has done publicity for QVC and the non-profit organization Mary PIRG.

Since joining Jane Wesman Public Relations, Lauren has worked on the campaigns for BRANDsense by Martin Lindstrom, Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi, and How to Hire & Retain Your Household Help by Guy Maddalone.