Chris Burger serves as the Founder, CEO & President of Rotunda Public Affairs. With two decades of experience in public affairs, communications and campaign politics, Burger brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to the public arena.
Burger helped lead the successful campaign for Tennessee’s 50th Governor Bill Lee — serving as Special Advisor, Director of Operations and Press Secretary. Burger spearheaded earned media and oversaw all public events for the campaign — traveling daily with the Governor. In the administration, Burger served as Director of Operations for the transition, Chief Strategy Officer & Assistant Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health. Additionally, he served on the Governor’s Healthcare Modernization Task Force and on the Governor’s Rural Commissioner Group — where he chaired the Alignment Task Force and served on the Broadband Task Force. He also spearheaded the Governor’s State of the State address in all three of the state’s grand divisions — the first time a Tennessee Governor has ever taken the State of the State on the road.
A campaign veteran, Burger worked on two presidential campaigns — serving in 2012 as Deputy State Campaign Manager for Governor Mitt Romney's campaign in Virginia as well as in 2008 for former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson.
Burger returned to Nashville in 2013 as Vice President of Advocacy and Public Affairs for a Nashville public affairs firm where he developed and implemented public affairs campaigns.
During his tenure in Washington, DC, Burger served as a Director at a global public affairs firm where he focused on a variety of public policy issues and campaigns on behalf of Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies.
An expert in developing public affairs strategies, Burger has extensive experience with grassroots management, coalition building and strategic communications for candidates, corporations and nonprofits. Previous and current client issues and industries include: airline, tech, tax, trade, energy, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, healthcare, insurance, education, labor, intellectual property, financial services, environment, immigration, transportation, defense, judiciary and real estate.
Active in the community, Burger served on the MLS2Nashville Committee which successfully brought Major League Soccer to Nashville of which he is an avid fan and season ticket holder for Nashville SC; served on Williamson, Inc.’s Business Advocacy Council; served as the YLC Board Representative to the Nashville Symphony; and volunteered at a local charter school where he helped tutor students. In his personal time, you can find Chris traveling, photographing landscapes, exploring new restaurants and enjoying live music.
Burger is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Government.
