New Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary Vanessa B. Pierce

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Vanessa B. Pierce as WECC’s new vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary effective August 3, 2026.

In this role, Vanessa will lead WECC’s legal affairs, providing strategic counsel to the executive team and board of directors. She will oversee corporate governance, enterprise risk, enterprise security, and international relations while advancing our mission through thoughtful legal guidance and sound business judgment.

Vanessa brings a track record of progressive leadership with various organizations and offers a deep understanding of corporate governance. In her most recent position at New U Life Corporation, Vanessa served as its first general counsel and corporate secretary, overseeing domestic and international corporate governance, legal affairs, and regulatory compliance for the health and wellness company. Her role also required ongoing engagement with a large and diverse group of domestic and international stakeholders.

Previously, Vanessa was senior counsel, international and legal affairs, at the Intellectual Property Owners Association in Washington, D.C. This position required significant interaction with a diverse group of stakeholders in government and within the private sector. Additionally, as a senior associate at Parsons, Behle & Latimer in Salt Lake City, Vanessa focused on patents, trademarks, and civil litigation. Her deep expertise in cybersecurity issues will be a significant asset as WECC continues to adopt artificial intelligence into the organization.

Vanessa serves on several boards and professional organizations, including: the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Utah Project, and Philippines Humanitarian (Project Hope). She is an active member of the Utah and California State Bars and is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Vanessa has appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 10th Circuit, and Central District of California, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the Eastern District of Washington, the District of Utah, and the Utah Supreme Court.

Vanessa earned a bachelor’s in human biology and chemistry from the University of Utah and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame. She serves as an adjunct professor at the Concord School of Law at Purdue University, where she teaches intellectual property and cyberlaw.