Primacy Strategy Group Names National Political Director & Adds Key Staff
Primacy Strategy Group (PSG) continues its growth to meet the needs of its expanding client base announcing staff promotions and additions.
Jake Blum – National Political Director & Public Relations Manager
Jake Blum has been promoted to National Political Director & Public Relations Manager for the Primacy Strategy Group. Mr. Blum has been with PSG for over 3 years and brings a wealth of political, communications, and policy experience to his expanded role as a member of the PSG team. A native of the Twin Cities suburbs, Mr. Blum attended the University of North Dakota where, during his collegiate tenure, he was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives where he served from 2016-2019. In the legislature, Blum served on the Judiciary, Finance & Taxation, and Agriculture committees during a consequential era for the state as landmark criminal justice reform was passed within his committee and the state worked to continue to diversify its commodity-based economy.
In addition to his service in the legislature, Mr. Blum’s background includes experience on multiple statewide and national political campaigns in the Midwest. Notably, Mr. Blum served as Deputy Communications Director for a successful U.S. Senate campaign, managing press inquiries and helping to implement the campaign’s overall communications strategy in an intense, nationally spotlighted campaign.
At Primacy Strategy Group, Mr. Blum puts to use his rich background in fundraising, rapid response political communications and knowledge of how the state and federal government work to assist companies, nonprofits, and associations accomplish their goals. This practical experience enables him to better serve the firm’s clients in the areas of Political Action Committee (PAC) administration and resource deployment, fundraising, business development, grassroots mobilization, public relations, public affairs, strategic communications and coalition building.
Calvin Benson – Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs
Calvin Benson is a new member of the State and Local Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs team at the Primacy Strategy Group. He is based out of North Dakota, servicing clients throughout the Midwest. Mr. Benson comes to PSG with a background in local, state, and federal public policy. Prior to joining Primacy Strategy Group Mr. Benson worked as a staffer for U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) doing district outreach and constituent advocacy focusing on agriculture issues and natural disaster relief. Mr. Benson worked for the City of Starbuck, Minnesota as City Administrator were he managed day to day operations of city and oversaw the 2020 Complete Streets Project, a multimillion dollar city infrastructure reconstruction project.
Mr. Benson holds a BS in Business Management from North Dakota State University (NDSU) and has been involved in public policy for over a decade. Mr. Benson is an avid NDSU Bison football fan.
Heidi Esparza – Executive Assistant to the CEO
Heidi Esparza has joined Primacy Strategy Group and Synergetic Endeavors as the Executive Assistant to the CEO. She will be based out of the St. Paul offices. Ms. Esparza has over 20 years of administrative support experience, most of which has been supporting the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 663. Most recently Ms. Esparza served as Legislative Administrative Assistant at Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P.
Ms. Esparza will manage both the daily and long-term schedule of the CEO, coordinating all travel, internal and external meetings, and provide other client support as needed.
Ms. Esparza was born and raised in Wisconsin and resides in Minneapolis.