Juana Hart Akers

Former television news anchor and reporter Juana Hart Akers is a corporate communication consultant and president of J-Hart Communications, located in Las Vegas, NV. She helps organizations and executives engage employees, clients and the public to increase visibility, productivity and revenues.  Juana connects with your audience, sharing lessons learned from working on both sides of the camera, both sides of business, and through a myriad of challenges--such as caring for eight children and, more recently, surviving breast cancer.

Juana launched her career as a radio and television news anchor for KTSM in El Paso, TX, moving on to become an award-winning host and producer of Insights at KDFW-TV in Dallas.  She also spent a few years on the other side of the camera as regional public information officer for the Texas Department of Human Services.  In that role, she was responsible for employee communications, community relations and served as media spokesperson regarding legally charged, controversial issues such as welfare fraud, elder abuse and a highly publicized daycare sex abuse scandal.

 She co-produced and anchored Nevada's first live, morning television newscast on KLAS before anchoring afternoon and evening programs and the popular Straight from the "Hart" franchise honoring outstanding workers and community servants.  After leaving news, she produced and hosted two independent television shows--On the Move and Business Connection, which aired on PBS-Vegas.  As vice president of administration and marketing at Las Vegas-based B.I.P. Software, Inc. she participated in the company's expansion to include government and private sector clients from Alaska to Florida.

Juana currently serves on the boards of three non-profit organizations: CLASS! Publications; Caring, Helping and Restoring Lives, Inc. (CHR); and the advisory board of SafeNest Temporary Shelter for Domestic Crisis.

She has received numerous awards and honors including: Distinguished Women of Nevada, Outstanding Achievement Award-UPI Broadcasters, Katie Award for Best Public Affairs Program, Outstanding Young Women of America, Leadership El Paso and a variety of community service awards.

Juana received a BBA in marketing from the University of Texas at El Paso.  She lives in Las Vegas with husband Tom, and is blessed with daughters Kelli and Mechele, and son by marriage, Brandon.