Steve Marchand is the Managing Director of The Marchand Group, a public affairs and strategic communications firm. He is the former mayor of Portsmouth, NH, serving as the youngest mayor in the state during his term. Marchand’s experience in government and politics includes auditing cities and states, and working with public policy organizations on such issues as health care, education, Social Security, and the aging of America. He has also managed or consulted with numerous state and federal political campaigns, and was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2007.
Marchand was named by the national periodical Politics magazine as one of “America’s 25 Rising Stars in Politics” in 2008. Marchand was named one of New Hampshire’s “Forty Under 40” young statewide leaders in 2006 by the New Hampshire Union Leader. He was also selected as the 2008 “Young Democrat of the Year” by the NH Young Democrats organization.
Marchand has been a featured guest speaker for numerous political, public policy, and civic organizations. On state and local public policy, he has spoken as a panelist and keynote speaker across the country as part of the Performance Management Institute’s regional seminars, and at several colleges and universities. On federal and education policy, Marchand has spoken before countless chamber of commerce, rotary clubs, and editorial boards. As a political analyst, Marchand has appeared on numerous media outlets, including MSNBC and New Hampshire and Massachusetts television, radio, and newspaper. He is also one of the National Journal‘s “Political Insiders”, providing regular analysis on national political and policy issues.
Marchand reformed his city’s budget process into an “outcome-based” model, emphasizing transparency, public input, and results-based policy-making to deliver the city’s goals quickly and efficiently.
Under Mayor Marchand, the City of Portsmouth has become a national leader in 21st century green energy policy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy, and saving taxpayers money. He has signed Portsmouth on to both the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign and the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
With Save Our Shipyard, Marchand fought to save the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005.
Marchand has served on the board of a number of state and local non-profit organizations, including City Year, United Way of the Greater Seacoast (UWGS) and Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS).
Marchand earned his undergraduate degrees in International Relations and Public Relations from Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY, and a Masters of Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, as well. He lives in Portsmouth, NH with his wife, Sandi Hennequin, and two young daughters.
