Chaka Burgess is co-Managing Partner of Empire Consulting Group. Mr. Burgess has over 20 years of experience in public affairs, coalition building, lobbying and ally development for corporations, trade associations and nonprofit organizations. At ECG, Chaka provides strategic advice to some of America’s most recognizable Fortune 500 companies and trade associations on public policy, and political and regulatory developments on Capitol Hill and the Administration.

Previously, Mr. Burgess was Vice President of Government Relations at the American Gaming Association (AGA) where his areas of responsibility included leading policy-focused public affairs programs to achieve AGA’s business and public policy objectives and oversight of AGA’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Prior to joining AGA, Mr. Burgess was Director of Global Government Affairs at Amgen Inc., where he represented the company before Congress and the Administration. Additionally, Mr. Burgess was responsible for strategic outreach to advocacy groups and lead Amgen’s efforts to implement health disparities outreach strategies and community outreach issues for the company.

Mr. Burgess has also worked in the Federal Government Affairs division at Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) where he represented Lilly’s interests on a variety of healthcare issues. Mr. Burgess also managed the Division of Health Policy and Medical Legislation at the National Medical Association (NMA) where he oversaw the management of national and state government relations, health policy and grassroots communication activities. He also worked as a consultant with APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs firm where he consulted various companies, non-profit associations and trade groups on market research issues management, government relations, public affairs strategies and crisis plans.

Mr. Burgess is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C. with a degree in Public Administration and Public Policy. He currently serves on several advisory boards including the governing board of Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and the NAACP Foundation Board.