Home | News/Blog | Member Stories

Tag: Member Stories

Member Spotlight: Kelsey Nelson

Written by Kimberly McGuire

Kelsey Nicole Nelson is a broadcast media personality and the founder, executive producer, and host of the “Listen in with KNN” sports talk podcast and radio show. She also is the Social Media and Digital Marketing chair for the Entertainment and Sports section for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). And she most recently served as the Vice President and Membership Chair of the Washington Association of Black Journalists. Today, she is on the Regional Advisory Council for the Tickets for Kids nonprofit and the Period Reality Advisory Board, and sits on the board of the Capital Emmys—where she serves as the Communications Committee Co-Chair—and the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame.

Your work draws people into amazing stories, but we would love to flip the script—how has your personal journey shaped your professional path?

I was born and bred in the Washington, D.C., area, which is special because sports are everywhere. I grew up going to games with my dad—seeing Georgetown basketball legends, watching the University of Maryland win championships, and going to the Baltimore Ravens’ training camp. Both my dad and mom worked so hard, which is where I get my work ethic from, but they always made time to take me to games and practices. This area has a unique culture, especially in sports, and I’ve been lucky to build a career in sports journalism here, where I can share athletes’ stories with audiences. Sports also have a special meaning to me because I spent many summers with my grandparents in Jackson, Mississippi, and the South is all about religion and football. When I wasn’t in church, I was playing football with other kids and having fun. Faith, family, and football paved the way for me, and now I’m so grateful that I can pave the way for others.

As you built your personal brand, what values or priorities mattered most to you? Were there any guiding principles that helped you stay true to yourself?

You have to have non-negotiables in life, and for me, those are trust and respect, which are what I built my brand on. Whether it’s people sharing their story with me, employers relying on me, or students learning from me, I want everyone I engage with to trust me. And I want to be respected for the work I do, but I’ve had to earn it, especially as a Black woman working in sports communications and the entertainment industry. I’ve earned the trust and respect of many because of my work ethic. I work hard on all that I do—I give 150%—and people know that. So, when they see the KNN brand, they know they will get a quality product. That’s important to me, especially as my brand has become increasingly more global, and I never know who is watching. And with everything I’m involved in, I always remember to stay true to myself—not get caught up in the hype and headlines—and to be humble, grateful, and thankful.

When you set your intentions for your brand, how did that shape the kinds of opportunities or roles you went after? Did it open doors you had not expected?

The cool thing about trust and respect is that you get what you give, and because a lot of my business is referral-based, it means that my values and other things I hold near and dear to my heart are seen and felt by others. I focus on being a good person with a strong work ethic and on making the people I meet or work with feel welcome. I’m always smiling and want to make other people smile, which is one reason I ended up loving nonprofit work. I was a Boys & Girls Club kid, which is how I went to my first professional sports game, so being able to give back now is a beautiful thing. I’m also on the Advisory Council for Tickets for Kids, which gives free sporting and concert tickets to children and families. I’m so glad I get to help and mentor younger generations, and I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had, such as in radio and podcasting, which unexpectedly led me to find joy in teaching and public speaking. Being able to use my platform for a purpose fueled by my passions is amazing, and I try to do so every day. I’ve seen life come full circle.

As you use your platform for a purpose, how do you approach using communications as a tool for positive change, both for yourself and the causes you care about?

My biggest thing is giving back. So, I’m most proud of the internship and fellowship programs that I have through my companies. I have a lot of people come to me, unsure about this job market and how to use their skills, and I focus on helping them get real-world experience and build their portfolios. I also truly enjoy getting to know them and just talking about life—I think that’s important. For example, while covering Super Bowl LX, one of the greatest joys I had was the conversations with one of my interns, Anfisa Pitchkhadze, who is a senior at San Jose State University and was out there working as a student journalist and thriving. To me, it doesn’t mean anything if you get to the mountaintop alone, which is why I like to lift people up as they climb. Especially in the communications industry, which has been greatly impacted, to be able to provide support to young people in their careers—that’s my “why” and the kind of legacy with a lasting impact that I want to have.

You are a source of inspiration for so many women in public relations. Are there any women—past or present—who have inspired you along your journey?

It’s honestly all the women around me. In Washington, D.C., women make up more than half of the workforce, and over half of the top executives are women. This is more than any other municipality in our country and something we should take pride in. It’s amazing how many rock-star women I met through organizations like the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, DC Chamber of Commerce, Women in Sports and Entertainment (WISE) D.C., and Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), as well as local leaders I’ve gotten to know and living in a city like D.C. where we have been led by a highly successful woman in Mayor Muriel Bowser. How can I not be inspired? There are so many women doing great things—doing them effortlessly and graciously. But the most inspirational superwoman, for me, is my mom. She always worked so hard but was always there for our family. I’m so grateful for her, for how supportive she is of me and my career, and for how she’s adapted to multiple roles while my father works to get back to full health.

Reflecting on your career and your role as a lecturer at George Washington University, what is the most meaningful advice you share with students or women starting out in their careers?

Be your biggest promoter. You are your own self-marketer. We live in a world where nothing is guaranteed, so knowing how to market and brand yourself is very important. And you can’t wait for someone else to do it for you. Start now. Don’t wait and stand in the shadows. Instead, be a go-getter, be curious, and embrace that entrepreneurial mentality. If you have that mindset, it won’t steer you wrong. But also remember to have fun while you do. We live in such a serious world that you need to find things to laugh at throughout the day. Every day, find something that brings you joy or makes you smile. For me, it’s my students who make me smile—I love being in the classroom and talking with them about things like entrepreneurial journalism and how we see journalism evolving.

On the topic of advice (and just for fun), what are your top five favorite things that you would recommend to our WWPR community?

First is the 2027 NFL Draft coming to Washington, D.C., which is putting our city in the spotlight for a good reason. Second are concerts because I love live music. There are so many great artists coming to the area, like Cardi B, so it is definitely something people should take advantage of. And because I am a foodie, my third-favorite thing is our local restaurant scene. I always appreciate a good social hour and helping the local economy, and a great restaurant I just tried is GAIA Supper Club (and love it!). On the topic of food, fourth would be getting popcorn at the movie theater—I love going to see scary movies, especially those based on a Stephen King book. I’ve always lived close to a movie theater, and because I don’t drive, I enjoy the walk to and from there. That leads to my fifth favorite thing—getting out to walk, as it’s the one time in my day that’s purely for me and my thoughts, where I give myself grace and space.

Member Spotlight: Lisa Chensvold, WWPR Communicator Turned Founder of a Thriving Communications Firm  

by Elisa O’Halloran

Q1. Tell us about your background—where you’re from, your education, etc., including your career background.

I’m a California girl who’s been on the East Coast since graduate school. I love where I’m from, but I’ve always said I’m a little too Type A for the West Coast. The East Coast pace and intensity fit my temperament, but I still carry some of that California balance.

I was a music major in college and later studied musicology in graduate school, exploring how music reflects the culture and history of its time. I’ve always felt the tension between head and heart, between logic and intuition, what feels safe and what feels true. When it came time to choose a career, that tension came to the forefront. I wanted to find work that used both my analytical and creative sides, and that led me to communications

The pivot wasn’t easy. It demanded resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to learn fast. I was fortunate to find incredible mentors who taught me the craft of strategic communications and supported my growth.

My career has focused on communications for mission-driven nonprofits and associations. I’ve been lucky to work across global health, workforce development, economic justice, and more.

What I love most about communications is that it’s cross-cutting. It’s the connective tissue that links ideas, people, and impact. It’s where strategy meets storytelling and becomes a catalyst for real-world change.

Q2. What inspired you to start your own communications company? Was there a defining moment when you knew it was time to take that leap?

I was exploring new roles, but nothing sparked. I couldn’t quite name why.

Working with a coach helped me see it clearly. It wasn’t opportunity that was holding me back, but the structure of institutional life itself. I wanted to work in a way where my thinking wasn’t diluted by organizational politics or discomfort with bold choices. I thrive in environments of independence and ownership.

As soon as I decided to consult, something clicked. When I later completed a multidimensional strengths assessment, it confirmed what I was already starting to feel: that my personality profile is almost a blueprint for entrepreneurship.

The freedom and flexibility are appealing, for sure. But mostly I wanted to create the conditions where I could bring my best, most strategic self to the table.

Q3. Before you launched your business, what experiences shaped your approach to communications and leadership? How did your earlier roles prepare you for starting your own business?

Some of my most formative lessons came early on. When I was still learning the ropes, I remember trying to engineer the perfect press release. A journalist-turned-communicator told me, “Just tell a good story.” That advice stuck with me. It was a reminder to choose narrative over formula.

I also learned about the power of influence. Success at work isn’t just about good ideas, but about cultivating allies and knowing how to bring people along. What matters is shaping thinking, not claiming credit.

Over my career in nonprofits, I’ve seen a recurring pattern. Every organization that isn’t a household name struggles to tell its story or demonstrate its impact. Almost every one of them says, “We’re complicated,” as if that makes them a special case.

They get lost in details, lean on theories of change and logic models, and quickly slip into jargon. On top of that, they’re chasing an ever-shrinking pot of funding, which leads to mission drift. Suddenly, you’ve got a portfolio of programs that don’t add up to something coherent. Complexity isn’t the problem, and communication isn’t the problem. Clarity is the problem.

Because communication is how your internal alignment and strategy show up in the world. If the foundation is shaky — or worse, missing — your communications will fall flat. I help organizations diagnose what’s really going on so they can align their communications with who they are and what truly matters.

Q4. What were some of the biggest lessons or obstacles you faced when you started your own business, and how did you navigate them?

Even as a solo consultancy, there are a lot of moving parts: platforms, proposals, invoicing, marketing, client delivery. Finding the right systems and workflows has been an ongoing process.

Another ongoing lesson is learning how to attract the right kind of work, the kind that aligns with what I want to be doing, and knowing when to say yes and when to say no. Every billable hour spent on unaligned projects is time you could be spending cultivating the right clients and projects. So I try to be kind to myself while I get off the ground and grow, but also be disciplined about not getting stuck in work that doesn’t reflect where I’m headed.

Q5. You’re also an active WWPR member and PRSA volunteer. How has being part of these communities influenced your career or your business growth?

Community has become one of the most important forms of professional growth for me. For years, I worked in small organizations where professional development wasn’t prioritized, especially for communicators. I stayed sharp on my own by reading, attending free webinars, and learning by doing.

Then I began engaging more intentionally with the field. I re-joined PRSA and the National Capital Chapter. I went all in, first leading a committee and now serving on the chapter’s board. And, after two decades in the field, I just attended my first PRSA ICON! It reminded me how powerful it is to be surrounded by people who speak your professional language.

WWPR has offered a different but equally valuable kind of connection. It’s been welcoming, generous — and multigenerational. One of my first events was a dinner of senior women whose experience and insight were deeply inspiring. Later, I volunteered for WWPR’s speed mentoring event — so I’m learning from and giving back to this community.

Q6. For other communications professionals who might be thinking about starting their own firm, what advice would you share—maybe something you wish you knew at the beginning?

First, keep the receipts. Seriously, save yourself the headache and stay on top of the small things, because they pile up faster than you think.

When I started out, I told myself I’d say yes to any project that came my way. I didn’t know yet what shape the work would take, and I figured every engagement would teach me something new. But I soon realized that approach couldn’t last.

The truth is, there are a lot of communications consultants and agencies out there that work with nonprofits. If I didn’t define my distinct value, I’d always be competing on price, not perspective.

The same principle I apply to my clients applies to me as well. Niche-ing down isn’t limiting; it’s strategic focus.

Q7. Do you have anything else you want to add?

If there’s a theme that runs through my life and career, it’s that tension between head and heart.

Leaving academia (I was most of the way through a PhD) was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made. I’d spent years working toward something that looked right on paper, but it no longer sparked anything in me. Following my instincts instead of my resume illuminated my path. It wasn’t a straight one, but it was mine.

Starting my business has been another version of that lesson, but now with more exhilaration than agony. It’s where head and heart finally work together. When your thinking and your instincts point in the same direction? That’s clarity.

Q8. What do you do for fun?

I am an urban wanderer. I love long walks, especially when they have a purpose, like stringing together errands that take me across the city or walking an hour to meet a friend for brunch. I’ve lived in D.C. for years and still love discovering new corners and neighborhoods.

Even after moving from music to communications, I’ve kept music as a through-line in my life. I’m a classically trained soprano and have sung with The Washington Chorus for a decade. I sang in a competitive karaoke league for years. I’ve also returned to dance after a long, long time away. I love the physicality and focus it demands.

When I’m not walking, singing, or dancing, I love crafting seasonal libations and hosting friends. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating a space where people feel welcome and cared for.

Author and AI: The Perfect Pair for Advocacy Communications

LeAnne DeFrancesco

By LeAnne DeFrancesco, vice president at Vanguard Communications

When I joined my company’s AI Task Force in early 2024, I knew I was going to be the skeptic on the team. I had an open mind about AI tools for other tasks, but for writing? I was not enthused, mostly because I assumed AI outputs would be stale, cold and only tell half the story.

To me, writing is a sacred process that not just anyone can do. You may learn technique and pick up style, but I still believe that people are born with a storytelling brain, or they aren’t. They know how to thread together thoughtful content that keeps readers interested, or they don’t. They can put themselves in the shoes of their audiences and deliver what they need to know and care about, or they can’t.

So to ask a machine to create a very original, nuanced piece of content seemed ludicrous.

At the same time, I saw — like everyone else did — the media headlines that gave me pause:

Dynamic Duo

The more I researched, read, talked to colleagues and consulted with peers about how they use AI to help them generate ideas or be a sounding board for their content, the more my stance on AI softened. Particularly in an industry with unforgiving deadlines and late-breaking curveballs, if AI could help me deliver for my boss or my clients by providing small, research-y shortcuts — without being dishonest or misleading — why not give it a go?

The same is true in advocacy communications. More often than not, probably, staff at advocacy organizations are stretched. There is a lot to do, to develop, in a short window of time. Breaking news on their issue changes their day in an instant. Response time must be quick, yet messaging must be on point. They need shortcuts without sacrificing the message.

If your goal is to change people’s hearts and minds about something, it’s not enough to just deliver the facts and summarize, which is what AI is good at. You need context, emotion and a personal story. You need impact, examples and turns of phrase that resonate with people. You might need humor, you might need shock. This is what humans are good at.

So really, combining robot with writer (or AI with author) is a perfect coupling.

Don’t Be Talked Into Breaking Up

There have been many threads on social media, blogs and podcasts pitting writers against AI. But in my view, there is no fight here, as long as leaders know how to use AI ethically and provide guidance for their employees to do the same.  

  • AI is good at some things, like searching online information quickly, and should be embraced for that quality. It can be clutch.
  • Humans are good at other things, like providing the “color commentary” around issues and making things personal, relatable and memorable.

Writing is indeed an art, and AI is a science. A tool. A technology that can help us get to our beautiful prose and thoughtful executions more quickly.

Which for those of us in PR and in advocacy communications, sounds dreamy.

LeAnne DeFrancesco is a vice president at Vanguard Communications in Washington, D.C., where she leads the firm’s Design and Editorial practice. She joined WWPR’s Pro Bono Committee in 2018, where she has helped several D.C.-based organizations enhance their PR and communications activities.

Member Spotlight: Thy-Ann Nguyen

Could you tell me about your background and what drew you to your current position?
I started my career as an administrative assistant at a health care PR firm and have spent the past 14+ years working in healthcare strategic communications—nine of which have been at CURA Strategies, where I’ve operated at the intersection of communications and operations. I’ve always been drawn to mission-driven work and to the health care space in particular, because of how directly it impacts people’s lives. Over the years, I’ve grown alongside CURA—from leading client campaigns to shaping internal processes and culture. Today, as Chief of Staff, I focus on scaling our impact by aligning our people, systems and strategy so we can do our best work. I love helping people connect the dots and creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to work to their strengths.

Describe what excites you most about your job.
I love building relationships—both with our clients and our team. There’s something really special about seeing people light up when they’re doing work that aligns with their strengths. I get energy from creating a positive, high-performing environment where kindness and empathy are just as valued as results. I also enjoy the behind-the-scenes challenge of making sure everything runs smoothly so that our team can focus on making an impact.

What is the most rewarding project you’ve done recently?
Helping to plan and lead our annual two-day company off-site retreat this year was incredibly rewarding. This year’s theme was Connected in Purpose, and it was such a great team-building experience. We covered a lot of topics including Kolbe and CliftonStrengths (both very useful assessments for team building/management if you haven’t heard of these before!) along with AI and project management—all in a way that felt energizing and joyful. These retreats are always the highlights of my years at CURA and reminds me that investing in our people and culture isn’t just good for morale—it directly fuels our ability to deliver excellent service for our clients.

As a member of WWPR, what have you gained from your experience?
Every time I attend a WWPR event, I leave feeling inspired. The women in this community are doing amazing things, and yet there’s a real warmth and openness that makes it easy to connect. I love that the programming includes everything from social events to professional development—it reflects the whole person. It’s rare to find a group that feels both ambitious and genuinely supportive, and it’s been such a joy to be part of it!

What PR/Comms trends, tech, or practices are you and your company adopting this year, and what have been the results?
Like many in our field, we’re actively exploring how AI can enhance—not replace—our work. As a team, we lean into using AI effectively and ethically and encourage the team to use it and share best practices with each other. We host regular trainings to help us stay on top of the latest tools and aim to focus even more this year on experimenting with specific AI tools that can streamline processes, spark creativity and make data analysis more actionable. The key for us has been balancing innovation with intention—we always ask, “Does this improve the quality of our work or our client’s experience?” When the answer is yes, we lean in.

Is there any book or podcast you recommend?
I recently listened to Atomic Habits by James Clear, and I loved how it breaks down goal- setting and behavior change into simple, actionable steps. It’s a great reminder that small habits can lead to big transformation. It’s helped me take a more intentional approach to both personal and professional growth.

Leading Through Change: Insights from a Former Emerging Leaders Award (ELA)  Winner

By Elisa O’Halloran

Jennifer Min, Lead at Foretell, a communications advisory and former Emerging Leaders Awards (ELA) winner has been helping brands, organizations, and CEOs move faster, think differently, and build for what’s next.

“It’s been incredible to be a part of Foretell’s growth,” she shares. “I’m thrilled to be working alongside the founders, former Shopify alumnus Erin Pelton and Nicole Flotteron.”

For Jennifer, this role represents a shift from her government background. As Director of Digital Media at the Department of Defense, she found working with creators and social media O’influencers to be a fascinating and important part of digital media strategy—an area she views as an essential part of modern communications.

“I joined Foretell because I wanted to push boundaries in this space and become a leader in this field alongside the team,” she says. 

Being recognized by WWPR and ELA was incredibly meaningful,” she reflects. Winning the ELA award in the government category remains a milestone in her career. “It was inspiring to be surrounded in a room full of brilliant women in communications. I felt honored to be part of such a powerful community.”

Over the years, the WWPR and ELA network has remained an important resource. “It’s a supportive and inclusive group,” she says. “Whether you’re looking to discuss new trends in digital media strategy or curious about trends at a big tech company, there is a strong chance that someone in the WWPR community will share insights and advice.”

For women rising in public relations and communications today, Jennifer’s advice is simple: “Stay curious, stay agile, and embrace new strategies as the landscape shifts.” Adaptability, she believes, is one of the most valuable qualities in a fast-changing profession.

Join the Mailing List

Stay connected with WWPR by signing up for our mailing list! You’ll receive the latest updates on professional development events, exclusive networking opportunities, leadership initiatives, and more!