Demers & Blaisdell, Inc. assists companies and organizations in the development and implementation of comprehensive and pro-active governmental affairs activities. Whether your particular needs involve legislative lobbying, regulatory assistance or association management, Demers & Blaisdell can help.
Demers & Blaisdell, Inc. is dedicated to the proposition that individuals and organizations must play an active role in the public process. Demers & Blaisdell has developed a solid reputation among legislators, regulators and the Executive Branch of New Hampshire's government. Our record of success is driven by our bottom line approach-getting results for our clients-with a superior combination of political awareness, integrity, legislative experience and the interpersonal skills to make it all happen.
Demers & Blaisdell works closely with a team of affiliated professionals who have direct experience in government, business, law, marketing and all aspects of corporate communications. Whether your needs are narrowly defined and related to a single issue or broad-based and long term, Demers & Blaisdell can identify and evaluate your organization's specific needs and address them effectively.
James M. Demers is the founder of The Demers Group and presently serves as President of Demers & Blaisdell Inc. Mr. Demers is a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and former congressional candidate. He has over 35 years of experience in the legislative, regulatory and political fields. He has been a political commentator/analyst for WMUR-TV, New Hampshire's ABC affiliate, New England Cable News and other media outlets. Mr. Demers is well known and respected throughout the country regarding the financial services industry and presidential politics. He has served as New Hampshire co-chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign and he previously served as New Hampshire chairman of Dick Gephardt's presidential campaign. He presently serves on the advisory board of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College, he is a member of the State of New Hampshire International Trade Advisory Committee and he participates as a "political insider" for the National Journal. He has been recognized numerous times as one of New Hampshire's "most influential" and "most powerful" people by Business NH Magazine and PolitickerNH.
Mr. Demers is a graduate of the University of Miami and he holds an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. He is a former three-term member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives where he served as the Assistant Minority Whip. He has served as President of The Demers Group for over 16 years. Additionally from 1997 ¬ 2007 he served as President and Executive Director of the New England-New York-New Jersey Financial Services Association and through 2010 he also served as Executive Director of the National Card Coalition, an organization consisting of major national credit card issuers and related companies with an interest in state legislative, executive, and regulatory activities affecting the credit card industry in all 50 states. He has served as Vice President of Government Affairs at Marine Midland Bank in New York, NY and Vice President of Government Affairs at the Associates Corporation of America in Dallas, TX.
Robert P. Blaisdell serves as Senior Vice President of Demers & Blaisdell, Inc. Prior to 2012, he served as Vice President of Government Affairs for The Demers Group, Inc. Mr. Blaisdell has been a professional lobbyist since 1998. He is responsible for managing and overseeing special projects for the firm including client development and assisting clients with strategy and their implementation of comprehensive governmental affairs activities, which includes lobbying and association management. In 2000 & 2001, Mr. Blaisdell served on the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee. In 2004 through 2006, Mr. Blaisdell served on the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire's Human Resource Committee where he focused on issues including labor law regulation, health and safety regulation, health insurance cost and availability, workers compensation, and improvement of the state's education system. In January of 2005, Mr. Blaisdell was named a recipient of the distinguished NH Union Leader newspaper's 40 Under Forty Award, which recognizes forty NH residents who are all under the age of forty, nominated by their peers and honored for being quick out of the gate, influential within their field and beyond, making their dreams a reality, and leading the way for New Hampshire's future. In January of 2008, Mr. Blaisdell was featured in Business NH Magazine's "The Battle for Power" Making it in NH for having many "impressive wins for clients". In January of 2009, Mr. Blaisdell was recognized by Business NH Magazine as, "One of 25 people who will lead and shape the Granite State for the next 25 years." In 2010 Mr. Blaisdell was appointed by the Mayor of Manchester to serve on the Task Force on Efficiencies & Consolidations and he was also nominated and confirmed by Manchester’s Mayor & Board of Alderman to serve a three-year term as a Commissioner of Manchester’s Parks & Recreation. He continues to serve as a strategy and policy advisor to many candidates seeking office on both the state and federal level. Mr. Blaisdell has a BA in Communications from the University of New Hampshire. He lives in Manchester, NH with his wife Molly and their three children Emma, James, and Caroline.
Thomas Prasol serves as the Manager of Government Affairs for Demers & Blaisdell, Inc. Mr. Prasol brings a myriad of experience in State and Federal government beginning his professional career as a Project Assistant to U.S. Senator Judd Gregg and a Policy and Field Coordinator for several campaigns. In 2008 Mr. Prasol transitioned to the position of Project Director for Senator Gregg where he handled federal appropriations in the areas of first responders.
Upon Senator Gregg's retirement, Mr. Prasol moved to the New Hampshire State Senate where he was a Legislative Aide to Senator Nancy Stiles as well as the Senate Education Committee. With Mr. Prasol¹s experience in federal and state government, he brings another dimension to the firm in areas of strategy, management of special projects, and government affairs implementation. Mr. Prasol received his Bachelor’s degree in Politics from Saint Anselm College where he served as an Ambassador to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, and his Master's degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. He currently resides in Hooksett, NH.
