# Tina VonderHaar

> Tina VonderHaar is the president, CEO and owner of St. Louis-based Brighton Agency. Trained in computer science and mathematics, she spent a decade at Accenture, founded the consultancy HRCounts, entered Brighton as a consultant, became its chief operating officer and acquired the agency at the turn of 2008-09. Her operating philosophy combines consulting discipline with creative work, visible leadership and a deliberately social office culture.

- **Role:** President and CEO at Brighton Agency
- **Organizations:** Brighton Agency, Accenture, HRCounts, ICOM, Arch Grants, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Powered By Hope, Clayton Chamber of Commerce
- **From:** Los Angeles, United States
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with mathematics studies, Florida State University
- **Known for:** Acquired Brighton Agency after first serving the firm as a consultant and then as chief operating officer., Brighton's published award submission says the agency grew from 40 employees and $31.6 million in capitalized billings to more than 60 employees and $81.8 million in five years under her leadership., Named one of the St. Louis Business Journal's Most Influential Business Women in 2010.

## Career timeline

- **1990s-early 2000s** — Spent ten years at Accenture, advancing from systems and business consulting to senior management and a global HR business-process role.
- **Early 2000s** — Founded HRCounts, a boutique consulting firm; Brighton became a client.
- **2004** — Began working with Brighton as a consultant.
- **2005** — Joined Brighton's staff as chief operating officer, according to ICOM's leadership profile.
- **2008-2009** — Purchased Brighton in 2008 and took the reins from founder Roger Yount in January 2009.
- **2010** — Named among the St. Louis Business Journal's Most Influential Business Women.
- **2015** — Received a Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in advertising, marketing and public relations.
- **2018** — Named Clayton Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year; Brighton was also recognized as a St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top Workplace.
- **2022** — Named to the St. Louis Titan 100.
- **2025-2026** — Featured in St. Louis Magazine's Business 500 coverage, discussing agency talent, leadership judgment and the region's airport connectivity.

## Achievements

- Acquired Brighton Agency after first serving the firm as a consultant and then as chief operating officer.
- Brighton's published award submission says the agency grew from 40 employees and $31.6 million in capitalized billings to more than 60 employees and $81.8 million in five years under her leadership.
- Named one of the St. Louis Business Journal's Most Influential Business Women in 2010.
- Received a 2015 Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in advertising, marketing and public relations.
- Named the Clayton Chamber of Commerce's 2018 Business Person of the Year.
- Led Brighton when it earned a 2018 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top Workplace designation based on employee survey feedback.
- Selected for the 2022 St. Louis Titan 100.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — St. Louis Magazine updated its Business 500 Q&A with VonderHaar, including her advice to lead by example, take informed risks and balance team empowerment with oversight.
- **2025** — In Business 500 coverage, she said Brighton offered permanent roles to all four interns in its eight-week program and that all four accepted.
- **2023-10** — Appeared on a National Agri-Marketing Association panel about trends, technologies and the agency world.

## Links

- Website: https://www.brightonagency.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tvonderhaar
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brightonagency
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightonagency
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightonagency

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/tina-vonderhaar
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-24