“In 20 years of business Susan Trainer is one of the most outstanding women leaders I have ever worked with! She delivers outstanding value for her employees, her clients and her family. She is one in a billion!!”
close 
President, Institute for Women’s Leadership
Joe Franscella developed a passion for communications in the early 90’s while working as an intern in the Communications and Press offices of former California Governor Pete Wilson. For the past decade, he’s worked in the communications, public relations, news and advertising industries.
Prior to joining Trainer, Joe was managing editor of a Central Valley (California) city’s official newspaper. During his six-year tenure, he established the paper’s online presence, IT system and – during an era when most newspapers experienced subscription declines – increased subscriptions 30 percent and profit 50 percent.
Previously, as a communications manager for TIBCO Software, he developed and managed a corporate video program, handled PR for EAI software product launches, and created a sports PR program that leveraged the celebrity of three-time Super Bowl Champion Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers.
Before joining TIBCO, Joe was a public relations account executive assigned to the team that launched the PeopleSoft 8 ERP solution. The launch PR efforts were so successful that PeopleSoft’s stock climbed from $20 to almost $50 per share within a couple weeks of the initial media outreach; and you know the rest of the story as PeopleSoft was eventually acquired by Oracle.
Joe has also executed PR campaigns for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s largest urban territory, founded and ran his own advertising and communications consultancy, been a beat reporter and photographer covering everything from politics to sports to human interest, and he has even produced a weekly television show.
When not at work, Joe devotes most of his time to his wife Kim, son Eddie, and daughter Erricka. His hobbies include trying to keep pace with Eddie while he rides his electric quad through his neighborhood, video shooting and editing, reading the Wall Street Journal from cover to cover, and honing his archery and elk calling skills in preparation for his annual hunting trips.
Q&A:
Greatest PR achievement: Developing and managing – at that time – one of TIBCO’s biggest and most successful PR events at the 2001 Super Bowl, which garnered worldwide attention for the TIBCO brand.
Best moment of professional pride: Watching a former practice director cringe with despair after I told her I was leaving the firm. “PeopleSoft is not going to be happy about that Joe,” she said as she tugged at the roots of her hair.
Best vacation: Honeymooning with my wife at the Club Med on San Salvador Island, Bahamas.
Most frightening moment: Watching my daughter drive off by herself for the first time in my truck immediately after she got her driver’s license.
Greatest adventure: Traveling through an uncharted area of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula rainforest with native guides for several days. There I saw wild monkeys, tarantulas as big as my size 13 shoe, one of the most rare nocturnal mammals of the forest, and an 8-foot long boa constrictor.
