LaChandra Burks is a dedicated public-sector leader with a distinguished career in Atlanta City Government. Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Atlanta, she succeeded in her previous role as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, which she held for over three years. Burks has also served as the Interim Commissioner of the City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Throughout her tenure, Burks has been instrumental in advancing public safety initiatives, including significant improvements to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department stations and enhancements in airport operations and in areas of human services. Her focus remains on addressing critical operational and infrastructure needs, particularly in public safety, public works, and transportation, as emphasized by Mayor Andre Dickens.

During her time as Interim Parks Commissioner, Burks facilitated and oversaw key components of the 10year masterplan, which serves as the roadmap for the evolution of parks, greenspace, and recreation in Atlanta, adapting to the city's growing population and increasing needs. Additionally, she effectively managed the operation of 33 recreation centers and over 400 parks, ensuring they remained vibrant community spaces for Atlanta residents to enjoy.

An Atlanta native, Burks brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to her role. She has served under five previous Atlanta Mayors and has held key positions throughout the City of Atlanta, and served as an elected member and Board Chair of the Atlanta Board of Education. In addition to her current role, Burks's leadership extends to her involvement with significant city projects and organizations. She was a Founding Board Member for the Atlanta Beltline, Inc., and a former board member of Invest Atlanta. Burks holds multiple degrees, including a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.).

LaChandra Burks is also dedicated to her family, married with one son and a bonus daughter. Her extensive experience and unwavering dedication to public service position her as a key figure in the continued advancement and operational excellence of the City of Atlanta.

Courtney D. English believes in leaving things better than he found them. An Atlanta native, English made history as the youngest person ever elected to citywide office, first winning a seat on the Atlanta Board of Education at age 24. In 2014, at just 28, he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as the board’s chairman—the youngest in the school system’s history.

During his tenure, English led efforts to raise teacher pay, increase classroom spending, and boost Atlanta Public Schools’ graduation rate from 51% to a record high of 79%, sending more students to college than ever before.

A former classroom teacher, English understood that strong schools require strong communities. He later worked for a nonprofit affordable housing developer, helping to create and refurbish thousands of affordable housing units across metro Atlanta while adding wraparound services to strengthen families and neighborhoods.

During the height of the 2020 COVID housing crisis, English served as Director of Community Development for the affordable housing nonprofit Star-C, where he raised $11 million to help more than 4,000 Atlanta-area residents avoid eviction. His work expanded access to affordable housing, reduced tenant transiency, and improved student outcomes through innovative programs and partnerships.

In 2025, Mayor Andre Dickens appointed Courtney English as Chief of Staff for the City of Atlanta, following his service as Chief Policy Officer and Senior Advisor to the Mayor. In this capacity, English oversees the operations of the Mayor’s Executive Offices, intergovernmental coordination, and the strategic implementation of the administration’s priorities.

He has spearheaded major citywide initiatives, most recently leading the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, a transformational $5 billion plan to invest in housing, infrastructure, and community development to make Atlanta the best city in the nation to raise a child.

English has also played a central role in advancing Atlanta’s efforts to address homelessness, helping to drive the $60 million Homeless Opportunity Bond—the single largest investment in the city’s history. Under his leadership, the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Strike Force has delivered nearly 12,000 units of affordable housing in less than four years.

In partnership with Invest Atlanta, his team also led the creation of Azalea Market, the city’s first municipal grocery store, designed to expand access to healthy food and spur neighborhood revitalization. He was a key architect of rapid housing projects such as The Melody and Ralph David’s House, providing critical pathways to stability and dignity for Atlanta’s most vulnerable residents.

English was also instrumental in shaping Mayor Dickens’ signature Year of the Youth initiative, expanding opportunities, programs, and support systems that have impacted more than 30,000 young people across the city.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College and his Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology and Leadership from Columbia University.

A sought-after public speaker, English has shared insights on topics including global engagement, neighborhood advocacy, public-private partnerships, and strategic policy development. He has presented at leading institutions including Harvard University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Emory University.

A pioneer in building partnerships and creating solutions, English was raised in Atlanta’s West End and credits his mother for his community-driven spirit. Her unconditional love and steadfast work ethic continue to guide his commitment to public service, leadership development, and mentorship of emerging leaders.

Courtney English is a devoted husband to his wife, Kelly, who, as he often says, “is better than I am at pretty much everything.”

Zaffer Sange serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the City of Atlanta, reporting directly to Mayor Andre Dickens. In this role, Sange leads the Mayor’s Strategy Office, a function created to accelerate high-impact initiatives that strengthen city operations and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.

A seasoned global executive with more than 25 years of experience, Sange has guided multi-billion-dollar enterprises through large-scale transformations across the United States, Europe, and Asia. His career includes senior leadership roles at Novelis, INEOS, and BP, where he oversaw enterprise strategy, operations, commercial performance, and the integration of people, processes, and performance to drive measurable results.

In Atlanta, Sange is responsible for leading strategic planning and execution of the vision set by Mayor Dickens by aligning major priorities across departments and enhancing execution. His early focus includes operating model sustainability, accelerating progress on the Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure program, shaping long-term drinking water strategies, and strengthening cross-departmental coordination on complex, long-term initiatives. His work helps catalyze transformative change and ensures the Administration’s goals translate into coordinated action, improved service delivery, and real outcomes for residents.

Known for developing high-performing teams and elevating organizational effectiveness, Sange brings a global perspective and a data-driven approach to municipal problem-solving. He is a member of the Mayor’s Senior Leadership Team and works closely with civic and private sector partners to move strategic projects from vision to implementation with clarity, consistency, and impact.