Jayna Kliner, Vice President
As Vice President, Jayna oversees the account teams at Welz & Weisel Communications, a leading tech PR agency and ensures the quality of performance and results across clients. With over 13 years of tech PR agency experience in both corporate communications and agency environments, Jayna has developed expertise in the areas of strategic planning, media and analyst relations, writing, crisis communications and message development.
From launching start-ups to providing technology public relations counsel to some of the nation’s best-known technology brands including AOL, VeriSign, Qualys and Verizon Business, Jayna focuses on delivering results that help her clients build industry awareness and market credibility.
Jayna graduated Cum Laude from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. She is a member of Women in Technology, serving as Vice-Chair of the Communications Committee, and has a black belt in Taekwondo.
Wayne Schepens, Vice President
Wayne Schepens brings over 16 years of technical and government experience to technology PR company, Welz & Weisel Communications. As Vice President, he delivers product and corporate messaging, business strategy and positioning, as well as thought leadership services to innovative technology companies. Wayne has expertly advised companies through all phases of business from fund raising and start-up status to product launch and strategic acquisition.
His government service culminated with the National Security Agency (NSA) where in his most recent position he served as Chief of the Office of Global Network Awareness within the NSA Threat Operations Center. In addition, Wayne has worked with the U.S. Military Academy and Naval Surface Warfare Center.
He earned a Master of Science degree from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Engineering from SUNY Maritime College in Electrical Engineering. Wayne played semi-professional baseball and continues to coach and run clinics with Ripken Baseball.
Dennis McCafferty, Director of Content Creation
As Director of Content Creation, Dennis seeks to ensure that "just right" information/presentation is matched with the wealth of available digital, broadcast and print-media platforms for Welz & Weisel Communications clients. Dennis brings more than 20 years of experience in editorial, working in all forms of content: metro newspapers, national magazines, custom publications, radio, TV, blogs and social media.
Previously, he launched his own B2B/B2G/custom-publishing business, DM Enterprises, and worked with clients such as IBM, Advanced Micro Devices, USAA, Nationwide, Amtrak, Ritz-Carlton, MasterCard, GM and many others creating custom content. He has also contributed to publications and digital content produced by Ziff Davis Enterprise, Post-Newsweek Business News and others, for titles such as Baseline, CIO Insight, Washington Technology and VARBusiness magazine.
From September 1997 through March 2010, he served as Senior Writer at USA WEEKEND, for which he interviewed among others Presidents Bush and Clinton, Caroline Kennedy, Donald Trump and Web founder Tim Berners-Lee During his time with WEEKEND, he appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR, Bloomberg Radio, ESPN and numerous other outlets. Before WEEKEND, he was a staff writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he won a national, first-place award for investigative reporting.
Rufus Manning, Senior Account Director
Rufus Manning serves as a Senior Account Director at technology PR company, Welz & Weisel. Manning has spent the past 14 years driving both global agency and corporate communications and social media programs for companies in the telecommunications/wireless, internet infrastructure, security, server virtualization, online advertising and B2C markets.
Manning most recently lead the corporate communications efforts for a number of established technology brands including VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN), TARGUSinfo, Parallels and Motricity (NASDAQ: MOTR). Over that time, his programs produced countless feature articles appearing in broadcast and print media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, Dow Jones, CNBC, Businessweek, USA Today, Time, Newsweek and more.
Prior to leading corporate communication programs, Manning cut his teeth in PR while at Brodeur & Partners. At Brodeur, he was a member of the team that launched the Raleigh, NC office supporting IBM and launched several notable start-ups including author Tom Clancy’s Red Storm Entertainment gaming company.
Manning is a graduate of North Carolina State University and was among the first recipients of PRSSA’s Codispoti Award, an award given to students who demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in high-tech public relations. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending time reading, running and trying to keep up with his three children.
Chris Leach, Account Director
Chris Leach successfully drives technology PR and social media campaigns for both public and private business-to-business and business-to-government clients in the areas of IT services, security, satellite and telecommunications. His has worked closely with clients to create messaging that resonates with key vertical and mainstream media outlets including Bank Systems & Technology, Businessweek, CIO, Forbes, Military Information Technology, PC World, Washington Technology and USA Today. Chris has also created speaking programs from the ground up, successfully positioning clients as industry and thought leaders at top industry tradeshows including CTIA, FOSE, Satellite 2009 and N+I.
In addition to past tech PR agency experience supporting technology clients across the country, Chris supported internal corporate communications as a member of the department of corporate affairs and communications for Iridium LLC, a satellite communications company in Washington, D.C.
Joyson Cherian, Account Director
Joyson Cherian has diverse public relations experience in telecommunications, network and Internet security, open source, software and wireless communications. With a passion for social media, Joyson creates strategies and implements communications programs for clients using Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Delicious. By leveraging these tools, Joyson is able to track client-specific news and insight, develop relationships with key industry influencers, media and analysts and provide counsel on the best ways to leverage social media to tell a story.
Previously, Joyson was with Cavalier Business Communications, where he oversaw new business acquisitions and renewals, as well as created awareness of company brand and products through inside and outside marketing techniques. Prior to Cavalier, Joyson worked with several agencies, including Ketchum Public Relations, handling public relations for various technology and government clients.
Nicole Nolte, Account Director
Nicole Nolte serves as an account lead working to support technology companies within the security, government, telecommunications and wireless industries. Nicole works with clients to communicate a message that resonates with their audiences and as a result is able to secure media coverage with outlets such as the AP, Government Computer News, Informationweek, Investors Business Daily and Wireless Week. In addition to managing accounts, Nicole provides strategic guidance across the agency as how to best implement today's social media tools for building communities, increasing brand awareness and creating relationships that matter. Nicole is a frequent speaker at industry events on the best use of social media tools for public relations and communications.
Prior to joining Welz & Weisel Communications, Nicole worked with Weber Shandwick Worldwide where she supported the Microsoft Mobile and Embedded Devices Group and OfficeTiger, an R.R. Donnelley company.