LIKE
Thursday March 28, 2024


Click the logos
for news and info
about these companies

Non-Profits & Special Events








Products & Services










Banking & Finance




Construction &
Real Estate






Travel & Tourism








Public Affairs











Top Headlines

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2003

Contact:
Gregory A. Tselikis, Esq.
(207) 774-1200
E-mail: jason@wolfenews.com

Jason Wolfe
(207) 775-5115

Web Site: http://www.bernsteinshur.com

Maine Governmental Experts Join Forces with Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson

Kay Rand and Larry Benoit bring public policy expertise to BSSN Resources, a new strategic consulting group

AUGUSTA, Maine (March 27, 2003) - Two of Maine's most effective and distinguished public policy strategists have joined forces to form BSSN Resources, a new consulting subsidiary of Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson.

Kay Rand, Gov. Angus King's chief of staff the past eight years, and Larry Benoit, who served as chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. John Baldacci and in high-ranking capacities to Sens. George Mitchell and Edmund Muskie during 30 years of congressional service, will assist clients in finding solutions to complicated regulatory, legislative and political issues.

Clients of BSSN Resources will include municipalities, state and local governmental agencies, private businesses and corporations, non-profit organizations, political action groups and candidates who need to interact with the state or federal government or with the general public. The consulting group will be supported by the legal expertise and resources of Bernstein, Shur, one of northern New England's largest law firms.

"I can't think of a more potent combination," said Gregory A. Tselikis, managing partner at Portland-based Bernstein, Shur. "Nobody in the state of Maine knows more about how Washington works from the inside than Larry Benoit. And Kay Rand has been right in the middle of every major public policy issue in the state for nearly a decade. They are trusted and credible and get results. We think we now have the waterfront covered. They are a perfect fit for us."

Benoit will begin serving clients April 1 and Rand is expected to join within a month, following a well-deserved sabbatical.

As chief of staff to former Gov. King, Rand developed an intimate understanding of both the executive and legislative branches of state government. In 1994, she also managed the Independent candidate's campaign.

Prior to her alliance with King, for two years Rand represented the business community in government affairs with a focus on real estate development, environmental permitting and general economic development.

During the Gov. McKernan administration, she served as deputy commissioner in the Office of Comprehensive Land Use Planning, working with municipalities, regional entities and state agencies on growth management strategies. Rand also has served as the lobbyist representing the Maine Municipal Association and Maine municipalities before the Maine Legislature and state administrative agencies, and was the key liaison with Maine's congressional delegation on municipal matters.

Rand said she is looking forward to joining a "superb legal team at Bernstein, Shur and adding a new dimension of services for clients, both old and new."

"My goal is to bring more than 25 years of experience and close association with municipal, state and federal governments to work on behalf of clients who need to interact at any level, to help them navigate successfully through what to many can be a bewildering and frustrating experience," Rand said. "I'm particularly thrilled to be joining Larry Benoit in this new venture. I worked closely with him during the transition from the King administration to the Baldacci administration and quickly grew to admire and appreciate his integrity and hard work."

Larry Benoit recently concluded a 30-year career in congressional service. He began with U. S. Rep. Peter Kyros and also served as senior field representative to Sen. Edmund Muskie, chief field representative to Sen. George Mitchell and chief of staff to U.S. Rep. John Baldacci.

In 1994, Benoit was elected Sergeant-At-Arms of the U.S. Senate, making him responsible for a $105 million budget and more than 880 employees. He also served as a member of the U.S. Capitol Police Board and was responsible for security of the Senate.

Benoit's extensive campaign experience includes managing Sen. Mitchell's political operations, including his successful election campaigns in 1982 and 1988. He also supervised John Baldacci's political operations and oversaw his re-election campaigns in 1996, 1998 and 2000.

Most recently, Benoit headed Gov. Baldacci's transition into the Blaine House, coordinating all activities leading up to the inaugural, selection of cabinet appointees and important post-inaugural activities, including preparation of the new biennial budget.

"I am very pleased to join with Kay Rand and the partners at Bernstein Shur in this exciting venture," Benoit said. "Together we will be uniquely positioned to provide a wide range of effective and resourceful consulting services to our clients."

Services to be offered by BSSN Resources include:

  • Assisting municipalities and governmental agencies in interactions with the private industry, as well as with state and federal government.

  • Reviewing failed or failing governmental programs and/or services to provide remedial solutions.

  • Representing individual corporations and business community alliances before the Maine Legislature, state executive branch agencies, Congress and federal executive agencies.

  • Helping non-profit organizations strategize and implement both short and long term relationships with the state and federal governments.

  • Assisting alliances of political interests develop and implement public referenda, lobbying and communications strategies.

  • Providing a full range of strategic advice and support for candidates running for major state and federal office; including campaign finance, public opinion research, assistance with information technology systems and electronic media strategy.


Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson is one of northern New England's largest law firms with more than 70 attorneys in offices in Portland and Augusta, Maine and Manchester, New Hampshire. The firm provides legal services in all major subject areas, including corporate and commercial law, litigation and trials, municipal and governmental affairs, education law, construction law, employment law and tax and estate planning. Bernstein, Shur also has an active practice in bankruptcy, health law, environmental law, technology and commerce, legislative law, intellectual property, public utilities and other regulated industries. For more information, visit the Bernstein, Shur web site at www.bssn.com.

# # #





NOTE: Wolfe News Wire is an online source for news and information about noteworthy companies and organizations. We invite you to share this content and/or leave a comment. Background info and past news items from a specific organization can be found by clicking the side logos. For more info, please email info@wolfenews.com. Thank you!



Terms of Use and Privacy Policy




©2015 Wolfe Public Relations. All Rights Reserved.