Michael E. Brunner is the president and founder of Brunner & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in helping organizations and individuals with strategic planning, coaching, and other organizational and management issues.  The firm also provides facilitation services to organizations and groups, helping them to address issues and reach agreement on important matters.

 

The firm primarily focuses on the non-profit sector in which Mr. Brunner has been a leader for over 25 years.  He is well connected to association CEOs and has made presentations to the industry’s organization, the American Society of Association Executives.  Mr. Brunner understands the unique challenges of the non-profit world and has helped many associations develop comprehensive strategic plans.  He also provides one-on-one business and personal coaching to non-profit and small business leaders.

 

Mr. Brunner recently retired as the chief executive officer of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), a large, national trade association representing the special needs of America's small, rural telephone systems.  While there, Mr. Brunner oversaw the management and administration of all activities of the 65-person staff of NTCA.  He also headed its subsidiary corporation, the Services Management Corporation, which had 105 employees and administers a $250 million medical/dental plan and two pension plans with assets totaling about $2.5 billion, placing them among the 500 largest in the U.S.  Each organization had a budget in excess of $14 million.  He held these positions for over 25 years.

 

He previously was the associate administrator for the Farmers Home Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides loans to America's farmers.  He also served as a legislative officer for the secretary of agriculture.  Mr. Brunner was the director of congressional relations with the American Meat Institute, the national trade association of the meat packing industry.  Before that, he served as a legislative assistant to two U.S. Congressmen during four years on Capitol Hill.

 

Mr. Brunner received a master's degree in business administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University.  He also earned a master's degree in public administration from George Washington University.  In addition, 

Mr. Brunner is a certified public accountant and a certified financial planner.

 

He currently lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Elizabeth.  Mr. Brunner has been an elected public official, serving as a member of both the Arlington County Board and School Board.  He currently chairs the Arlington County Employee Retirement Board.