Since launching The Wakeman Agency in 2003, Vanessa Wakeman has established herself as a champion for nonprofits and progressive organizations on the forefront of innovation and social change.  At the helm of an award-winning agency that produces transformative special events and public relations campaigns, Vanessa and her team help to tell the stories of a diverse group of clients committed to making the world a better place.  Vanessa’s vision is to create a platform for the individuals and organizations that are emerging as the thought leaders of our time. 

Growing up in a family of un-official socialites, Vanessa had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of event planning firsthand. Combining cherished childhood memories of over the top celebrations with her formal education and former work experience, she created a full service special events company. Less than a year after starting the agency, public relations services were added in an effort to offer more value to clients.

Prior to starting The Wakeman Agency, Vanessa was a communications technologist at Morgan Stanley where she led a team of 34 and was responsible for desktop technologies for North America and Europe.  Vanessa conceived and executed one of the firm’s first technology outsource programs, saving the firm more than 30% in annual spending and decreasing time to market for trading and investment banking business units. The model was so successful that it was later implemented in Morgan Stanley sites nationally and in India.

She has been quoted by PR Week, New York Daily News, ABC Eyewitness News, Selling Power, Smart Money magazine, Westchester magazine, New York News Day, Philanthropy Journal magazine and a host of other outlets.  Vanessa was an expert contributor to the PR News’ Guide to Best Practices in Nonprofit Communications and the popular wedding planning book Real Simple Weddings. She was also the inaugural special events columnist for Westchester Wag, a society magazine covering the New York tri-state area.

She currently lives in Westchester with her husband Newell. She enjoys antiquing, travelling and spoiling her 13-year old niece Kayla.