John E Charlson

John E. Charlson is a Senior Director at Tonio Burgos and Associates, Inc. (TB&A). With over twenty years of experience in communications, media and government relations in the public and private sector, Charlson began his career serving as an aide to former NYS Governor Mario Cuomo. Joining the National Education Association of NY after that, he spent most of the last decade working for International Business Machines. He also served as a senior executive at the NY Lottery before launching his own start-up lobbying and public affairs office representing clients before state government in Albany, NY, including those of Tonio Burgos and Associates, Inc. a firm he joined full-time in June, 2011. Serving Governor Mario M. Cuomo in a number of positions from 1988-1995, he worked in the communications function on diverse policy and public relations issues at a time economic growth was a priority to New Yorkers. Charlson traveled extensively with Governor Cuomo throughout New York State, the nation, and internationally; including to Japan, Israel and Italy to promote New York's trade relations with government and business leaders. After working for Governor Cuomo, Charlson became Director of Communications for the National Education Association (NEA/NY) where he promoted education and labor issues for the state affiliate of the teachers' union at a unique time in history during which quality in education occupied the high ground of public discourse. With the emergence of the dot-com boom, from 2000-2007, Charlson worked as a media relations spokesperson for International Business Machines in the information technology giant's Systems and Software Group headquarters in Somers, NY in Westchester county. Responsible for promoting IBM business earnings for its multi-billion dollar software and systems divisions and emerging wireless and Linux businesses, he also earned extensive media coverage for the company's product launches, some key acquisitions and as spokesperson for the SCO vs. IBM lawsuit, among the largest legal battles in corporate America at the time. He later served as Director of Communications for the New York Lottery, the most profitable lottery in North America, from June, 2007 to January, 2009. At the Lottery, Charlson was a senior executive and spokesperson for public policy issues managing several multi-million dollar promotional programs supporting its sole mission to earn money for education. Charlson earned his B.A. in Journalism from the Pennsylvania State University and an M.A. in Political Communications from the State University of New York at Albany. He is a native of Clifton Park, N.Y., and currently resides in Saratoga Springs, NY.