ALBANY, N.Y. and GLENS FALLS, N.Y., Feb. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kathy Messina, whose financial stewardship helped Behan Communications, Inc., become one of the leading public relations firms in New York State, has been promoted to the newly created position of Chief Financial Officer.<br /><br />Mark L. Behan, President and CEO of Behan Communications, Inc., said Ms. Messina, who has supervised the firm's finance and human resources departments, will play a key strategic role in guiding the firm's expansion and in assessing growth and acquisition opportunities. Ms. Messina began working for the firm as a bookkeeper in 1990 and has served as controller since 1998.<br /><br />"Kathy is an indispensable colleague and counselor and has been so from the firm's earliest days. Much of our success is a direct result of her expertise and good judgment. We are delighted that she will take on additional responsibilities as we continue to pursue new growth opportunities," Mr. Behan said.<br /><br />"We are all about serving our clients, and I look forward to helping the firm continue to secure the very best talent and grow our practices," Ms. Messina said.<br /><br />As Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Messina is a member of the firm's senior leadership team along with President and CEO Mark Behan, Chief Operating Officer Jon Cohen, and Vice Presidents John Brodt, Joan Gerhardt, Bill Callen, Steve Janack and Troy Burns.<br /><br />Ms. Messina grew up in Rockland County, NY, and graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey. She worked in public accounting before joining Behan Communications. An avid hiker and traveler, she lives in Fort Ann, NY, with her husband, Paul.<br /><br />Behan Communications, now in its 26th year, specializes in public relations, strategic and crisis communications, and serves clients across New York and the Northeast. The firm has major practices in the environmental, energy, manufacturing, financial services, innovation, health care and non-profit sectors. Behan has earned more than 145 industry awards in the last 10 years. With offices in Albany, NY, and Glens Falls, NY, the firm was ranked the Capital Region's leading public relations firm by billings in 2012, according to data compiled by the Business Review.