The Devine Strategies Team

Jim Merrill

Jim Merrill is the Managing Director of Devine Strategies and a leading authority on the political and business environment in the state of New Hampshire. For over a decade, Jim has been a sought after political advisor and strategist, whose high level work has ranged from service on the staff of a New Hampshire governor, to directing the successful 2000 general election campaign for President George W. Bush in New Hampshire, to most recently serving as State Director for Governor Mitt Romney in the 2008 New Hampshire First in the Nation Primary.

Jim is also an attorney, with experience in complex real estate and business transactions. Jim has been recognized for his service in the public and private sector, first by the New Hampshire Union Leader in 2004 as one of New Hampshire's "40 Under Forty", by PolitickerNH in 2008 as a "rising star" in the New Hampshire Republican Party, and most recently this year by Business NH magazine as one of "25 Leaders for the Next 25 Years." Between his policy, grassroots and legal background, Jim is uniquely suited to provide strategic consulting services to clients on a wide array of issues. To review Jim's complete biography and background, click here.

Teresa R. Rosenberger

Teresa, President of Devine Strategies, and the former President of FairPoint Communications in New Hampshire, works extensively helping clients develop a strategy for success and growth. Teresa has extensive experience in regulatory matters, government affairs, public relations, grassroots organizing and economic development. Teresa interacts regularly with the Governor, state legislature, state agencies, New Hampshire’s federal delegation, the federal government, local organizations, NH cities and towns and other public officials on areas of concern to the firm's clients. Throughout her career, Teresa has expertise in the areas of telecommunications, public utilities, healthcare, taxation, licensing, environmental issue, human resources, and all general business issues.

Teresa's approach to problem solving is to work within the client service team, providing potential political, legislative and grassroots solutions. Understanding the dynamics of both the political and legislative process at the federal, state and local levels allows Teresa to be a valuable contributor to a client service team.

Throughout her 30 year career in public policy, communications and advocacy, Teresa has been involved at both the national, state and local level. She began her career at U.S. News and World Report magazine. She has been a member the speech writing and research staff at the White House under the presidencies of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. From 1989-1996 Teresa was a political and communications consultant for The American Association of Retired Persons, helping develop federal and state advocacy positions and strategies for involvement in the presidential and other federal elections. She has also consulted for the Healthcare Leadership Committee in Washington, D.C., specifically working with their management to develop integrated state strategies to implement healthcare reform legislation. Teresa has worked on issues in the State of New Hampshire for the last decade and a half. Most recently, Teresa was the President of FairPoint Communications in New Hampshire. While at FairPoint, Teresa was able to successfully bring the company out of bankruptcy and totally change its image to one of respect. Under Teresa’s leadership, FairPoint was voted the best telecommunications company in NH. To review Teresa's complete biography and background, click here.

Susan V. Duprey

Susan Duprey concentrates her law practice in zoning and planning issues, municipal law and commercial real estate. She specializes in obtaining approvals in difficult settings and for sensitive projects. She has represented numerous local, regional and national developers in obtaining zoning and planning approvals to construct complex and multi-use real estate projects. Her expertise in the municipal arena derives, in part, from the 6-year term she served as a member of the Planning Board and the Heritage Commission of the City of Concord, the State's capitol. As a Planning Board member, she led a significant community-wide effort to revise the City’s Master Plan. She was also twice elected and served as a City Councilor for the City of Concord for three years. Susan was recognized for her work in the municipal field when New Hampshire Magazine named her "Ideal Lawyer" in the Town Lawyer category in 2003.

As president of Devine Millimet from 1998-2005, Susan was instrumental in the development of the firm's reputation and the specialization of its lawyers. During this time, she directed the firm's continued growth throughout the region.

Susan's leadership role extends to the community, the Bar and Republican politics. She currently serves on the Board of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc. and on the Advisory Board of Ocean Bank, a division of People's United Bank. Susan was recently appointed to the Manchester Development Corporation by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, serves on the Board of the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts and is a trustee of the New Hampshire Supreme Court Society. She is a past Board Chair of Heritage United Way, the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She was recognized in Woodward & White's Best Lawyers in America® 2011 and was named one of the 30 Most Powerful Women in New Hampshire by New Hampshire Editions Magazine. Susan continues to serve on numerous Republican political campaigns on both the national and state levels. She recently served as Treasurer of the Ovide Lamontagne for Senate Campaign and on the Finance Committee of the Guinta for Congress Campaign. She was on the steering committee of McCain for President and formerly served as the New Hampshire Finance Committee co-chair of the Bush-Cheney 2004 Presidential Campaign and as a member of the Bush-Cheney 2004 Steering Committee. To review Susan's complete biography and background, click here.

Kim Cook

Kim is an advisor to Devine Strategies, and focuses on working with clients in the public and private sector throughout Maine who require assistance in solving complex business challenges. She and the Devine Strategies team focus on providing strategic planning, public relations and communication counsel, public policy and issues advocacy campaign counsel, political and business networking and coalition building, and grassroots organizing and management efforts.

Ms. Cook is a well known consultant and legislative specialist who manages her own government affairs business. Kim is regularly sought out to advise on challenging issues within Maine's business community. A native of Massachusetts, Kim spent several years in Colorado, where she served as a legislative aide to a Denver City Councilor and campaign manager for a prominent Colorado State Representative. Kim serves on the Public Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce. She recently completed a 3-year term on the Portland Land Bank Commission, which seeks to preserve open space and promote passive recreational opportunities within the City of Portland and previously served as a member of Portland's Zoning Board of Appeals.