Hunter Lamirande
Founder | Point Blank Political, LLC
AAPC caught up with new Young Professional Member, Hunter Lamirande.
AAPC: Who do you look up to in the industry?
Hunter: Having been exposed to the political consulting industry about 4 years ago, I’ve had the privilege of working on many campaigns. I’ve work with a large amount of consultants, pollsters and politicians, but I would have to say there are many of whom which have influenced me to get where I am today. I look up to the consulting firms who have built a name for themselves over the past years, who have adapted to the industries ever-changing landscape, who have proven to be true contenders and knows what it takes to help win a campaign. It’s been quite the journey starting my own firm, so I really show appreciating to those who have done it before me.
AAPC: What’s next for you this year?
Hunter: This year is all about growth for me. Starting my own firm just a short few months ago, I would have never thought I’d be doing so well for myself by mid-2019. The resources I’ve had access to have allowed me to choose the direction of my firm, based upon how much time and effort I put into the business. Working with politicians and campaigns is only the beginning of where I want to see myself go, as I have aspirations to partner with other consultants/firms to really make an impact in the industry. I believe that hard work and determination will bring great successes to Point Blank Political this year, and I am very excited to see it all come together.
AAPC: What do you love about politics?
Hunter: Politics can be a love/hate relationship for a lot of people… you either love it or you hate it. The thing about politics that I love, are the relationships built and the collaboration that goes into it. I’ve built a book of clients over the past few years, but what that really means to me is relationships and friends have been made. I help my clients get their message out to communities, and voice their opinions for issues that they are passionate about. I like to think of myself as bridging the gap between the politicians and the voters, allowing ideas to be planted and discussions to be made. My work is important in the eyes of many people and I love being able to connect a politician to their voters for the better good of a community.
AAPC: What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Hunter: “Be curious and ask questions.” I think this is so important, especially in the political consulting landscape. Asking questions can be the deciding factor on whether you can deliver exactly what a client needs. Being thorough in our line of work is of the upmost importance, so don’t be afraid to ask your clients a question if you don’t know the answer. Rather than thinking you are not smart enough, they will appreciate you caring enough to ask. Some of the most successful consultants ask questions not because they aren’t smart enough, but because they want to hear all of the details to be able to perform their job as best as they can.
AAPC: Where do you go when you need to be inspired?
Hunter: I think everyone can use a spark of inspiration when work has become stale or stagnant. A lot of times when I need inspiration, I look to see what others are doing successfully and think of how I can do something similar or better. People inspire other people to do great things and I think history has shown that when someone does something great, there will be another who can do it better. I strive to do the best work that I can; going above and beyond expectations inspires me to work harder. There is nothing more inspiring than a pat on the back for doing a great job.
AAPC: Why did you join AAPC?
Hunter: I believe being a part of an organization such as the AAPC opens up so many more doors, and brings validity to my firm. Being able to collaborate, attend conferences, get industry updates and learn new ideas through webinars… these are all benefits that I value through the AAPC.
AAPC: How do you manage high-stress situations?
Hunter: Stress is something that everyone can use a little of. Stress motivates people, in small amounts. When stress runs high however, always be willing to ask for help. Delegation and having patience are things that I’ve learned to be a very useful tools in managing my stress. Delegating tasks among your organization allows the stress to be dispersed evenly, motivating everyone around you and relieving anyone from feeling overwhelmed. Patience is important because you must know that you cannot always get everything done right away – some things take time, and if you’re not patient with that then you will stress yourself out.
AAPC: Why is being part of a bipartisan organization valuable to you?
Hunter: Being able to see both republican and democratic views is an invaluable skill to have. Eliminated narrow-mindedness allows me to not only work with both parties, but understand why they are doing the things they do. Both sides of the aisle have so many talented politicians from the municipal level to The White House and it’s important to me that I collaborate with everyone to fully understand the political landscape for my clients.
