Our Team

Earl V. Wells III – President

Earl Wells opened e3communications, a full-service public relations and public affairs agency, in January 2001.

Earl’s career includes work in both the public and private sectors in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, and Washington, DC, and other areas throughout the United States.

Earl began his career in 1988 in the Communications and Operations Unit of the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. Earl’s other career highlights include working with the MWW Group, one of the largest public relations agencies in the United States. His clients at the MWW Group included AT&T, General Public Utilities, Puerto Ricans in Civic Action, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association, and Continental Airlines.

Earl worked in communications at Consolidated Edison in the company’s Media Relations Department. While at Con Edison he worked daily with a wide range of media in New York City, as well as regional and national media outlets, including The New York Times, New York Daily News, The New York Post, the Associated Press, and several major television networks, radio stations, business publications, and trade journals.

Some of Earl’s past clients include Texaco, Inc., the National County Executives Association, Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G), DuPont Pharmaceuticals, and the New York State AFL-CIO.

Earl is married to Lucia Destefano and is the proud father of four children.

 

Brian A. Gould - Director of Public Relations and Public Affairs 

Brian manages several agency clients that demand skillful navigating of the public policy process. 

Prior to joining e3communications, Brian was Public Affairs Officer for the Erie County Water Authority, a state-created public benefit corporation that serves over 540,000 consumers throughout Western New York. In this capacity he planned, coordinated, and implemented all aspects of public affairs and public relations programs.

Prior to his position at ECWA, Brian was Chief of Staff to the City of Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader from 1995-2000. He was responsible for the overall operations of a citywide legislative office, including all public and media relations and constituent services.

Brian also served as a legislative assistant in the Erie County Legislature from 1994-1996 for former County Legislator Michael A. Fitzpatrick. 

Throughout his career, Brian has successfully implemented business development programs and has managed several local political and public referendum campaigns.

Brian earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a minor in Public Administration, from the University at Buffalo, and a Master’s degree in Public Relations Management from Buffalo State College.

Brian also lends his skills to the local community. He is a member of the board of directors of the South Buffalo Community Association, volunteers for the Canisius High School Alumni Association, and is a corporate campaign cabinet member for the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County Community Care Fund.

Kevin G. Banes, Director of Government Affairs

Kevin comes to e3communications with years of public and private experience.  Most recently, he successfully ran two statewide government affairs departments simultaneously. Kevin was director of government relations for the School Administrators Association of NYS and the NYS Public High School Athletic Association.  In this capacity, he advised both Associations on legislative and regulatory policy, and political matters.

Prior to lobbying for public education, Kevin worked for Assemblymember Kevin A. Cahill, currently the chair of the Assembly Energy Committee, as his legislative director.  While working for Mr. Cahill, he managed the day-to-day operations of the Albany office.  In his role as legislative director, Kevin's core responsibilities were focused on legislative and budgetary priorities for the Assemblyman.

Kevin, a Buffalo native, began his civic career working for the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, first as community investments manager and then as Community Investments Advisor.  He was responsible for directing the community outcome-funding allocation process for the organization, strengthening community/agency relations, legislative advocacy, and various other vital functions, such as fundraising, outcome based training and a myriad of community projects across the county.

Kevin received his Masters in Public Administration from the University at Albany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and holds a Bachelors degree in Communications from the University at Buffalo.  He has worked on numerous political campaigns and other civic causes.  In addition, Kevin has volunteered with organizations such as Deaf Adult Services of Buffalo and St. Mary's School for the Deaf.  Currently, he is Board Member for Wildwood Programs in Albany.  Kevin resides in Albany's historic downtown Center Square.

Benjamin Brady Roberts – Senior Account Executive

Ben is back in Western New York as a member of the e3communications staff after gaining some impressive public relations experience in Orlando, FL and Cleveland, OH.  Because of this experience, Ben is our go to publicity specialist who basically serves all of the agency’s clients as a result of knowing the art of “the pitch.” His experience in just a short time as a public relations practitioner speaks for itself.  In fact, he was promoted to Senior Account Executive in the spring of 2007.

As an Account Executive in the public relations division at Stern Advertising, Ben was responsible for managing public relations programs for McDonald’s Restaurants of Northeast Ohio, Things Remembered and Pearle Vision. He also provided public relations support for other agency clients including Sterling, Inc. (Kay Jewelers), Clear Channel Entertainment and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.

Ben was accepted into the prestigious Client Services and Promotions Fellowship program at Disney Sports Attraction in Orlando. He provided media relations support services to the Client Services & Promotions Team Managers for a number of special events including the Tiger Woods Coca Cola Junior Golf Classic, Home Depot College Football Awards Dinner, Orlando Magic Media Day, FUNAI PGA Tour Classic and many others. Ben has also provided media relations services to Buffalo boxing legend Baby Joe Mesi.

He is a 1998 graduate of Clark University and received his M.A. in Sports Administration from Canisius College in 2003.  Ben serves on the board of the Learning Disabilities Association of WNY and the Suneel’s Light Foundation.

Andrea Colby, Senior Account Executive

Andrea joins e3communications from COARC, a non-profit agency that works with people experiencing developmental disabilities in Columbia County, New York.  Andrea was responsible for coordinating and implementing all aspects of public relations, publications, fundraising, membership, and special events for COARC. 

Prior to COARC, Andrea worked for K●B Toys in public relations at the corporate office in the Berkshires, from 1998 to 2001.  She was responsible for public relations, customer correspondence, special events, media training and coaching, and corporate sales. 

Andrea also has experience in the hospitality industry working for Canyon Ranch, an award winning luxury spa.  She honed customer service skills in the Guest Services department before moving to the Human Resources department as the Recruiter.  She has also worked for a student travel company, Student One Travel, conducting sales and serving as an on-site Activities Manager in the Bahamas. Andrea is a 1992 graduate of Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communications.

Andrea is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and serves Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Capital Region Chapter.  She is graduate of Leadership Columbia County and volunteers with the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.

She resides with her husband, David Colby, President and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, and their two children, Madison and Maddox (Max) in Athens, New York.

Laura E. Taczak – Account Executive

Laura has become an invaluable member of the e3communications team since joining the agency as an assistant account executive in June 2004. She was promoted to Account Executive in June of 2006.

Her current clients include Giant Food Stores, Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation, NOCO Express, Phillips Lytle, Literacy New York, Lower Niagara River Region and others. Laura provides these and other clients with media relations and publicity services, including substantial work with regional and national media outlets as well as account management.

Prior to joining e3communications , Laura participated in internship programs with the American Red Cross Blood Services New York-Penn Region in Rochester, Tops Markets, Eric Mower and Associates and WKBW-TV. While earning her B.A. in Communication with minors in Public Relations and English Literature at the State University of New York at Geneseo, she served as President of the Geneseo chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and received a PRSSA National President’s Citation.

Laura is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, Buffalo/Niagara Chapter and volunteers her time in a public relations capacity as a board member with the March of Dimes and the Taste of Buffalo.

Jamie Gallagher –Assistant Account Executive

Jamie Gallagher is the newest member of the e3 communications Team. She most recently interned with the executive staff to the Cheektowaga Town Supervisor, handling public affairs and citizen relations matters for Supervisor Dennis Gabryszak. Jamie also interned in public relations and marketing for Realty USA where she assisted in co-coordinating the state-wide convention. Jamie earned a Bachelor's degree in media communications with a minor in public relations from Medaille College.