Mauricio Villacres

About Mauricio Villacres

I currently work in Federal Government Relations at McDonald’s, supporting political communications and stakeholder engagement across the company’s advocacy efforts. My role focuses on connecting corporate leadership, franchisees, and elected officials through strategic engagement, including restaurant visits, policy events, and partnerships with organizations such as CBCF and CHCI. I also support internal coordination by managing leadership communications and tracking key advocacy wins to ensure our work is clearly communicated across the organization.Prior to McDonald’s, I worked in program management and strategic partnerships across the nonprofit and higher education sectors. At the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, I served as Assistant Director of Credential Programs while also earning my Master of Public Policy, supporting initiatives that expanded educational and professional opportunities for students. I also worked at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI), where I partnered with congressional offices and organized more than 10 major events while helping bring programs back in person after the COVID-19 hiatus. Earlier in my career, I worked in politics and legislative environments, shaping my interest in the intersection of policy, leadership, and public engagement.

Experience

1. Supervisor, Federal Government Relations

   McDonald's

   Jul 2024 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead political communications and support stakeholder engagement for McDonald’s Federal Government Relations team, coordinating advocacy efforts with franchisees, elected officials, and corporate leadership through initiatives such as restaurant visits and partnerships with organizations including CBCF and CHCI.• Strengthen internal operations and strategic alignment by managing leadership communications, office processes, and engagement tracking, including executive updates, newsletters, stakeholder coordination, and capturing key advocacy wins for mid-year and end-of-year reporting to VP leadership.

Education

• University of Chicago

  Master Degree, Public Policy

• Purdue University Northwest

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science and Government