Bob Bruner

Employer: City of Birmingham, MI

Graduation Year: 1999

Current Position: City Manager

Biography: Bob Bruner was recently selected as the new city manager for Birmingham, MI.  As the 8th person to serve as its manager, he runs the day-to-day operations of a community with over 20,000 residents.  He is also the youngest person ever to serve as the city's chief administrative officer.

Bob graduated from Albion with a dual major in Political Science and Economics & Management.  He was also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, the volunteer corps, and served as the music director for WLBN, Albion College's radio station.

"Being at a small liberal arts college allowed me to participate in numerous extracurricular activities and campus events," he said.  "Attending another school would not have afforded me these same opportunities."

As part of the Ford experience, Bob worked in Washington, D.C., as a White House Intern.  Under the supervision of Gene Sperling, director of the National Economic Council for Presidents Clinton and Obama, he worked on mergers and acquisitions, like the Daimler-Chrysler partnership that developed in 1998.

"Serving as a White House Intern was not only a phenomenal experience, but the internship and my Albion education have led to several career opportunities in public service," Bob remarked.

Since graduating from Albion College, he has completed a Masters of Public Administration from Wayne State University and a Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management from Eastern Michigan University.  He has worked as a consultant for Accenture, assistant city manager for Ypsilanti, MI, and city manager for Ferndale, MI.


"Local government is the level that affects people the most.  I enjoy my work because it is meaningful and connected to the greater good."