Boost online presence and drive results with search advertising

Drive awareness and conversions through social media advertising

Paid Social

Leverage advanced targeting capabilities across smart devices

Increase your brand visibility across top retailers

Retail Media

Maximize visibility and audience engagement through organic search

Target audiences with precision and efficiency across display networks

Programmatic Display

Media

Define and elevate your brand identity, voice and design

Brand Strategy

Futureproof your brand by resonating with diverse audiences

Multicultural Marketing

Marketing strategies based on your audience's behavior to maximize return

Integrated Marketing Planning

Strategy

Derive insights into channels driving the most significant impact

Media Mix Modeling

Understand customers' brand perception and purchasing decisions

Brand Awareness & Preference

Understand customer needs, preferences and behaviors to meet demands

Market Research

Collect, process and store data to inform impactful business decisions

Data Management

Business Intelligence

Bring big ideas to life through strategy, imagination and ingenuity

Creative Concepting

Inspiring design work to help your brand grow

Design

Video content that rivets audiences and compels them to act

Video Production

Creative

Influence, engage and build relationships to influence perception

Public Relations

Partner with personalities who have visibility and trust in your space

Influencer Marketing

Share relevant and valuable content for real time audience engagement 

Social Media Marketing

Create engaging and memorable event experiences

Event Marketing

Communications

Create meaningful and valuable content geared toward target audiences

Content Strategy

Build a reliable flow of content that is relevant for your audience

Content Production

Content Marketing

Maximize your marketing automation platform capabilities

CRM Management

Drive engagement and nurture sales leads through email marketing

Email Marketing

CRM Marketing Automation

Find the technology and database solutions that meet your needs

Web & Mobile Development

Make your site useful, usable, and appealing to your audience

User Experience Design

Bring products to life in ways you never thought possible

Augmented Reality Development

Web UX & Development

What We Do

Marketing Intelligence

Building & Renovation

Solutions

About Us

Our Work

Perspectives

Careers

Active Nav

Hear from the Brunner Marketing Team as we give agency news updates, awards announcements and valuable insights on the ever-changing digital landscape.

Perspectives from Brunner Marketing Team | Brunner

Brunner Marketing Team

BlogArticle

<h2>Brunner Celebrates Two Visionary Leaders as They Embark on Retirement</h2>At Brunner, we believe in the power of transformation, whether it's helping clients navigate change or evolving as an agency ourselves. And Brunner is going through a pretty big transformation this year.By the end of 2025, two of Brunner’s longtime leaders—Rick Gardinier, Chief Digital Officer, and Jeff Maggs, Managing Partner of our Atlanta office—will be retiring.Rick's and Jeff’s impact at Brunner has been nothing short of extraordinary. But change always brings a chance to lift the next generation of leaders, those ready to take the torch and run with it. With that said, Michelle O’Neill and Annette Sally are stepping in—Michelle as Senior Director of Web Solutions &amp; Delivery, and Annette as Executive Vice President—and they’re bringing a bold vision to the table: to accelerate Brunner’s growth and elevate its impact.While we honor two visionaries who have helped shape our journey, Brunner is charging ahead. This year alone, we expanded our capabilities with the acquisition of Rakuten Performance Solutions, enhancing the services we offer to clients. We have added 21 new employees and 40 new clients to the mix and expect exponential opportunities from the merger.“We celebrate not just Jeff’s and Rick’s retirement, but the decades of dedication, leadership, and heart they brought to Brunner,” said Ken Johns, Partner and Chief Client Officer, Brunner. “Their contributions have left a lasting legacy that has laid a powerful foundation for Brunner’s future. We are all deeply grateful for their commitment to the agency, the people here, and for making Brunner a special place to work. They will be missed.”<h2>Rick Gardinier: A Digital Pioneer</h2>Rick has been with Brunner for 25 of his 35+ years in the industry, and during that time, he’s been a driving force behind our digital evolution. From the early days of the internet to today’s complex digital ecosystems, Rick has led with a rare blend of technical savvy, marketing insight, and business acumen.Reflecting on his career, Rick shared, “Looking back, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to help guide Brunner through the ever-evolving digital landscape. Staying ahead of the rapid pace of technological change has been a rewarding personal challenge—and one I’m proud to have met. But what I’ll miss most is learning something new every single day from the brilliant colleagues I’ve had the privilege to work alongside.”As Rick prepares for his next chapter, we’re excited to announce that Michelle O’Neill has been promoted to Senior Director, Web Solutions &amp; Delivery. With 25 years of experience, Michelle is perfectly positioned to lead our web development and digital project management teams into the future.<h2>Jeff Maggs: Champion of Strategic Creativity</h2>Jeff has spent nearly two decades at Brunner, leading our Atlanta office and bringing bold, strategic thinking to every client challenge. His leadership has earned global recognition, including Effies, Cannes Lions, and ADDYs.Reflecting on his time in the industry, Jeff said, “Agency life isn’t for the faint of heart—and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of leading clients through big ideas, bold campaigns, and the kind of challenges that demand grit and creativity. It’s been a fast-paced, high-stakes ride—and I’m proud to have given it my all for over four decades in the agency business.”&nbsp;Stepping into Jeff’s shoes is Annette Sally, currently Executive Vice President. Annette brings a wealth of experience from top agencies like Grey, Arnold, and Leo Burnett, and she’s known for delivering results across Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits alike.As we look to the future, we remain committed to innovation, creativity, and delivering outstanding value. Rick and Jeff have left an indelible mark on Brunner—and we’re excited to build on their legacy.Here’s to what’s next!

At the end of 2025, two of Brunner’s longtime leaders – Rick Gardinier and Jeff Maggs will be retiring. Read more about how Brunner is evolving. 

Brunner Celebrates the Retirement of Two Leaders

Brunner Celebrates Two Visionary Leaders Retiring

Leadership Shake-Up Fuels Brunner’s Next Phase of Growth

Share to

Good people doing great work for our clients.