Nancy Lesic, Principal
Revitalization of the Flats East Bank. Funding for Cleveland’s major league sports arenas. Planning opening VIP event at Detroit Auto Show. Rebranding of a major bank in its Midwest footprint.
When civic and business leaders have needed a proven professional to oversee communications for these and other substantial efforts, they have called upon Nancy Lesic.
A former journalist and press secretary, Nancy is driven by a deep-rooted work ethic that constantly results in thorough, creative and swiftly-produced work for a diverse array of clients. Trust and performance have helped her build a vast and constantly growing network of relationships among public officials, business leaders and the media.
Her expertise in media relations, crisis communications and issues management have served her well while working on a long list of highly visible commercial real estate projects that have included the $500 million redevelopment of the Flats East Bank in downtown Cleveland, Steelyard Commons, the $100 million One University Circle apartment tower and the $250 million world headquarters of American Greetings.
Nancy has worked on various local and state issue campaigns. She led communications efforts on behalf of The Pew Charitable Trusts to reform Ohio’s highest-in-the-nation payday lending rates. She has worked twice on behalf of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians on the controversial but successful extension of the so-called sin tax in Cuyahoga County to pay for major repairs to Cleveland’s major league sports facilities. She also managed public affairs efforts to win public approval for the recently completed $140 million improvement at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and $200 million in planned upgrades to Progressive Field.
Throughout the Midwest, Nancy oversees communications for Rhode Island-based Citizens Bank. Part of those duties included communications and event planning for the successful branding conversion for Citizens – which was previously known as Charter One.
When former Congressman Louis Stokes passed away, the Stokes family called upon Nancy to coordinate the resulting media coverage.
She has also represented the Greater Cleveland Partnership on a wide variety of issues such as education reform, Medicaid expansion, NASA, tax policy and much more.
From 1994 to 2000, Nancy served as press secretary to Cleveland Mayor Michael White. She directed communications for the nationally heralded campaign to bring NFL football back to Cleveland. A member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2000, Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University, where she studied political science and economics. She began her career as a journalist for the Lake County News-Herald.
She splits her time between her Cleveland and Akron residences.
Contact Nancy
216.392.9634