Joseph Watkins held as one of Americas rising stars, served as host of the talk radio program called: “The Big Talker” broadcast. You’ve seen him analyze the world on The Fox News Channel, CNN, and MSNBC. With over thirty years of experience in politics, finance, and strategy consulting, Joe Watkins is well prepared to tackle the tough world, national, and local issues that face us everyday. And as pastor of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, the oldest African-American Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Joe has a unique take on life and social issues too.
Joe Watkins is a key non-lawyer member of the government relations practice at Buchanan Ingersoll, a major national law firm. Before entering the financial services industry, he ran his own strategic advisory consulting firm in Philadelphia. He opened the firm in 1991 after serving as associate director in the Office of Public Liaison at the White House under President George H. W. Bush. Joe was introduced to politics in 1981 when he joined the staff of newly elected U.S. Senator Dan Quayle as the Assistant State Director. In 1984, he was tapped to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana’s 10th congressional district but was defeated in the general election by the incumbent. He returned to Pennsylvania and served as an assistant to the President of the University of Pennsylvania until his enlistment in the 1988 Bush Campaign and his subsequent transition to the Bush White House.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from the Princeton Theological Seminary. Joe and his wife have lived in the city of Philadelphia for 30 years. They have three children and 2 grandchildren. Joe serves on numerous boards including the Middlesex School Board of Trustees, the Lankenau Hospital Board, the Eastern Technology Council, and Youth Inc.