Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announces the appointment of marketing and communications veteran Jess Vecchiarelli as her Director of Communications and Westchester-based journalist Anna Young to serve as Public Information Officer.
“Upon becoming District Attorney, I pledged to make this office more transparent and more responsive to the needs of the community,” DA Rocah said. “This new communications team will continue to improve the way we connect with the public, and their extensive experience and dedication will help spread our mission of safety, accountability, integrity and justice.”
Vecchiarelli, who has spent over 20 years working in the public, private, education, and non-profit sectors, was the former Director of Ossining for Fair Funding. There she developed and led community advocacy efforts, which raised enough awareness among elected officials to get the most underfunded school district in New York State – the Ossining Union Free School District – on a successful path to financial stability. She previously worked as the Director of Marketing and Communications for Summit School at Nyack, and held management roles at MasterCard, where she performed in both nationwide and global markets. Additionally, Vecchiarelli has served in marketing and communications positions at Corsearch and the American Museum of Natural History.
Vecchiarelli graduated from Marist College with a B.A. in Communications.
“It’s an incredible time in our society for social justice issues as we navigate and shape a post-pandemic world,” Vecchiarelli said. “Being a community advocate, Westchester native and busy mom provides me with a unique perspective that will enhance the delivery of our Office’s message and mission. It is my privilege to work with District Attorney Rocah, and to help further her goals of bringing transparency to the work of our Office.”
Young is an award-winning journalist and the former Digital Editor for Examiner Media, a weekly publication that covered both Westchester and Putnam counties. She worked previously for The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, providing in-depth coverage on government, politics and community news.
Young, a Yorktown Heights native, has also written for various local news outlets where she reported on community features, government, politics, crime, education and breaking news. A graduate of SUNY Purchase College where she received a B.A. in Journalism, Young has received accolades from both the New York Press Association and the South Carolina Press Association.
“Working at the forefront of local journalism in both New York and South Carolina, especially during these unprecedented times, has been an incredible experience and a true privilege,” Young said. “But I am deeply honored to join the District Attorney’s Office in this capacity with my colleague Jess Vecchiarelli to represent a dynamic and resilient trailblazer like District Attorney Mimi Rocah as she forges a path to a more equitable criminal justice system for all in Westchester County.”