William “Chip” Rogers
Chief Executive Officer
Chip Rogers became the Chief Executive Officer of Americans for Fair Treatment (AFFT) in October 2024. Prior to joining AFFT, Chip served as President and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the national association representing the interests of the entire U.S. hotel and lodging industry.
During his tenure at AHLA, Chip led the industry to numerous advocacy successes, earning widespread recognition for his leadership. He has been honored with accolades such as Business Travel News’ “25 Most Influential,” The Hill’s “Top Lobbyist,” Job Creators Network’s “Small Business Defender of the Year,” and Washingtonian Magazine’s “Most Influential People in Washington.”
Under Chip’s leadership, AHLA was named one of ASAE’s “100 Associations That Will Save the World,” and the organization received the White House “Presidential Award for its Pledge to America’s Workers.” Additionally, AHLA was recognized with the PR Week Purpose Award in 2020.
Before entering the hospitality industry, Chip served in the Georgia General Assembly, where he was elected six times and unanimously chosen to serve two terms as Senate Majority Leader. He also served on the boards of the American Legislative Exchange Council and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation during his time in office.
Chip holds an undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia State University.
Carissa Burgett
Chief of Staff
Carissa Burgett is the Chief of Staff at Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector employees offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights. Prior to joining Americans for Fair Treatment, Carissa served as the Assistant to the President and Board Administrator at the PA Chamber of Business and Industry managing the office of the president and its 65-person board of directors made up of top CEOs and executives from across the Commonwealth. She has nearly fifteen years of C-Suite administrative professional experience from working for a privately ran small organization, to working for a fortune 500 company, to working in the non-profit sector.
Carissa is an active member of the IAAP, serving as Chair-Elect for its Foundation Board of Directors and proudly earned her CAP certification in 2019. Due to her extensive background in board governance and dedication to elevating the standards for the administrative profession, she is a global trainer and speaker, being featured on multiple podcasts, industry publications, and has been a session and keynote speaker for multiple international organizations including Girl Scouts, The PA Way, the International Association of Administrative Professionals, Beacon-the Institute for Administrative Excellence, and Diligent. She is also a three-time administrative award finalist.
Residing in Pennsylvania, Carissa enjoys spending time outdoors with her two dogs. She loves to read a good book and craft in her spare time, and travel whenever she can with her husband and daughter.
David Osborne
Special Counsel
David R. Osborne is Special Counsel for Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector workers offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights. David is the former CEO of AFFT.
Prior to his roles at Americans for Fair Treatment he served as President & General Counsel of the Fairness Center, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm providing free legal representation to those hurt by public sector union officials, and as a Presidential appointee to the Federal Service Impasses Panel, which resolves labor impasses between federal agencies and federal employee unions.
David earned his Juris Doctor (JD) at Florida State University College of Law and holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and radio/television communications from the University of Central Florida.