Mike McKay

  CEO, Founder and Managing Partner of Empire Consulting Group  

  Mr. McKay served as Senior Policy Advisor, Counsel and Political Director for U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY), a senior Member of the House Financial Services/Banking committee & Chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee, managing a diverse range of issues including transportation, telecommunications, healthcare, trade, technology, financial services, defense and energy. In that role, Mr. McKay served as the primary liaison to the Democratic Leadership; the New Democratic Coalition; the Democratic Leadership Council and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). In addition, Mr. McKay served on the Kerry-Edwards presidential campaign and was a surrogate on the presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mike was the key staffer who authored the High Density Rule in the AIR-21 legislation for Rep. Meeks. He helped secure the 75 slots at JFK for JetBlue to begin operations in 2000 from the Clinton Administration. He also helped the efforts among Democrats to provide industry relief after the attacks of 9/11. Throughout his tenure with Rep. Meeks, Mike was the Congressman’s designated staffer for the redevelopment efforts of JFK airport beginning with American Airlines new billion-dollar plus terminal 8 investment in 1999; new cargo facilities and the JFK Air Train. 

Before joining the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. McKay served as a government and community relations liaison for the John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia Airports at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Mr. McKay’s duties included promoting the commerce and economic development opportunities of the New York aviation industry with the local communities of New York City and the region. Mike is a member of the Board of Directors for the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, the political arm of the CBC; and is a Member of the DCCC’s Speaker’s Cabinet as well as the DSCC’s Majority Trust. Mike is a die-hard fan of the NY Mets, Jets, Knicks and St. John’s basketball where he was a volunteer on the men’s team in the final season of Hall of Fame coach, Lou Carnesecca. He is an active member of Saint John’s University (NY) Alumni Association – go Red Storm!