Mr. Burke was born in New York City. In the 1960s, when Mr. Burke was a young boy, his father started opening businesses in Ocean City, Maryland. Originally these were seasonal businesses, operating only in the summer. Eventually, they became year-round operations, including retail stores, restaurants, and commercial real estate. Mr. Burke attended junior high and high school in the state of Florida. He obtained a degree in accounting from Florida State University, which has a well-respected business school. Mr. Burke’s original plan was to go into the family business. His initial strategy was to obtain an accounting degree and a law degree in order to have a solid educational background for being a businessman. Mr. Burke attended the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.