# Michael J. Brunner

> Michael J. Brunner is the co-founder and retired chairman and CEO of Pittsburgh-based marketing agency Brunner. His career spans agency integration, digital investment and a management approach built around employee introductions and financial transparency. The agency’s leaders bought the business when he retired in 2021; he entered the AAF Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 2022.

- **Role:** Co-founder and former Chairman and CEO at Brunner
- **Organizations:** Brunner, American Association of Advertising Agencies, AAF Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Point Park University, Rivers Club
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree; field not verified, Bowling Green State University, Master’s degree; field not verified, University of Pittsburgh, Ivy School of Professional Art, Pittsburgh
- **Known for:** Co-founded the modern Brunner agency in 1989., Built a one-profit-center model combining multiple marketing disciplines., AAF Pittsburgh Hall of Fame inductee, 2022.

## Career timeline

- **1989** — Modern agency launched as Blattner Brunner.
- **2011** — Published an essay about competition and team culture in Forbes.
- **2012** — Contributed short commentaries on culture and failure to Fast Company.
- **2017** — Chairman and CEO during the agency’s 84 Lumber Super Bowl campaign.
- **2020** — Recognized in the Pittsburgh Smart 50 Awards.
- **2021** — Recognized in Outstanding CEOs coverage; retired in December as agency leaders bought the business.
- **2022** — Inducted into the AAF Pittsburgh Hall of Fame.
- **2025** — Listed as a November AAF Pittsburgh panelist on the career life cycle.

## Achievements

- Co-founded the modern Brunner agency in 1989.
- Built a one-profit-center model combining multiple marketing disciplines.
- AAF Pittsburgh Hall of Fame inductee, 2022.
- Recognized in the Pittsburgh Business Times’ Outstanding CEOs coverage, 2021.
- Pittsburgh Smart 50 honoree, 2020.

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — AAF Pittsburgh listed the retired founder as a panelist for The Career Life Cycle: Can We Age Well Professionally? on November 6.
- **2022-09** — Brunner announced his AAF Pittsburgh Hall of Fame honor on September 27.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-brunner-3906765

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-j-brunner
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22