20+ years

Current member of the Dean's Advisory Council for the La State University School of Veterinary Medicine

Member of Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) - A Non-Paritsan Policy Group

Sigma Nu Alumni Association

Former Member-Governor's DWI Task Force

Eric M. Sunstrom has had a distinguished career communicating complex issues to public officials; first as an in-house government affairs executive and most recently as the head of a successful lobbying firm. Eric's career began in local lobbying as the first ever director of governmental affairs for the St. Tammany Home Builders Association. From there he was hired as the Louisiana Restaurant Association's VP of government affairs.

His experience in the halls of the legislature made for an easy transition to contract lobbying and public relations. Eric launched The Chesapeake Group in 2004 bringing his expertise to a wider range of clients, designing and implementing programs to promote legislative and regulatory initiatives on their behalf. Since that time he has advocated issues from industry-supported fee increases, tax cuts and pro-business legislation. Currently, Eric serves as President of The Chesapeake Group, coordinating the legislative agenda for a number of clients. Mr. Sunstrom was recently appointed to the LSU School of Vetinary Medicine Dean's Advisory Council. He is a former member of the Governor's DWI Task Force, and the Hunting and Fishing Advisory Education Council.

Eric is a native of Baltimore, Md and attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. He resides in Baton Rouge with his wife Meg and their Doberman, Copper.

20+ years

Chairman of the Board of Overseers, Seton Hall University School of Diplomacy and International Relations

Member of Environment and Energy Team, Transition 2018/NJ Governor-elect Phil Murphy's Gubernatorial Transition

Rich, a Founding Partner of GTB, Partners LLC, has enjoyed a distinguished career in politics and international affairs spanning four decades while working at the highest levels of the Federal government and the State of New Jersey. At GTB, Rich directs our international affairs practice as well as executive branch efforts of the firm. In addition, Rich conducts comprehensive development efforts on behalf of GTB's clients seeking to do business with all levels of government in New Jersey.

In 2011, Rich and Michael Torpey founded Advanced Energy New Jersey, a clean energy/energy efficiency not-for- profit trade association comprised of 150 companies engaged in this space.

Prior to founding GTB, Rich was the managing partner in Winning Strategies/Global.

He served as Senior Advisor for Trade Development to the late-Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown. There he led the US Government's commercial diplomacy efforts in the Middle East and Africa. Before joining the Commerce Department, Rich served as Special Counsel to the President in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel and Assistant Counsel to the Presidential Transition. He previously was Director of External Affairs for New Jersey Governor Jim Florio. In 1992, Rich was appointed to serve as the New Jersey State Director for the successful Bill Clinton and Al Gore presidential election campaign. For the first time since 1964, the Democratic Presidential candidate carried the state. His political experience also includes serving on the staffs of U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Bill Bradley and as an advisor to Senator Bob Torricelli. Early in his career, Rich was Chief of Staff to New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak. Rich has also served a term as Council
President in his home town of Spring Lake Heights.

Rich earned his LL.M. in International and Comparative Law at Georgetown University Law Center, received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. in Political Science from Fordham University. At Fordham, he pitched for the Fordham Rams baseball team and was invited to join Omicron Delta Epsilon, the honor society in economics. Rich serves on the Board of Overseers to Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy, where he is currently the Chairman, and their President's Advisory Group. Rich and his wife Robin have two children, Brigid and John.