| Liz Brunner | |
| Birth Place: | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Known For: | TV news anchor |
| Occupation: | executive coach |
| Alma Mater: | Lawrence University (The Lawrence Conservatory of Music) |
| Parents: | Galen E. Russell, Jr. Mary Chacko Russell |
Liz Brunner is a former American journalist, an award-winning television news anchor, reporter, certified professional coach (CPC) and the CEO of Brunner Communications. She is also the award-winning best-selling author of Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams into Your Next Chapter. Brunner worked at WCIA-TV Champaign-Urbana, IL, WTVT-TV Tampa, FL, and WCVB-TV, Boston, MA where she served as a main news anchor and reporter. In 2013, she founded Brunner Communications, a firm that specializes in media training, communications coaching, and consulting. She is also the host of a multi-award winning podcast, Live Your Best Life with Liz Brunner.
Brunner was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to Mary (née Chacko) Russell, a retired medical social worker, and Rev. Galen E. Russell Jr., a Pastor of the United Church of Christ. Chacko, born and raised in India, met Russell in Japan, where Russell's parents served as missionaries.
She was raised along with her three younger brothers in Hawaii and Pekin, Illinois. Brunner graduated from Pekin High School and in 1979, competed in the Miss America Pageant as Miss Illinois.[1]
Brunner attended and earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Lawrence University's Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Upon graduation, Brunner became a music teacher in Richton Park, Illinois. Additionally, she sang semi-professionally with the Park Forest Singers and performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. After leaving music, Brunner worked for Caren Charles and was among the company's top sales associates.
Her family's ancestry has been traced back to William Morse and William Brewster.
In 1985, Brunner took her first job in television at the CBS affiliate WCIA-TV in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, serving as community relations coordinator. She then joined WTVT-TV, Tampa Bay's CBS affiliate (now a Fox station) as the director of community relations. Within a year, Brunner was named co-anchor of the early morning news. In 1991, Brunner was awarded the "Up and Comers Award" from the American Women in Radio and Television, now called, the Alliance for Women in Media.
After five years in Tampa, Brunner was hired by WCVB-TV, Channel 5, the ABC affiliate in Boston, as correspondent and fill-in anchor for its news magazine show, Chronicle. Brunner then moved into a full-time role in Channel 5's news department becoming the 5:30 and 11pm anchor. Later, Brunner was selected to fill the space vacated by long-time Boston news anchor, Natalie Jacobson, as the 6pm NewsCenter 5 Anchor.
Brunner served as the Executive Vice President of American Women in Radio and Television, Boston chapter.[2]
In October 2013, Brunner departed from her 20-year post as a main anchor for NewsCenter 5, WCVB-TV.[3] She has since launched Brunner Communications, a firm that specializes in media training and communications coaching.
In 2020, Brunner aired the first season of the Live Your Best Life with Liz Brunner podcast, an interview-style show with guests who have re-created their lives and triumphed over personal struggles, professional challenges and other powerful experiences. Previous guests have included; Robin Roberts, Jack Canfield, Laura Lynne Jackson,[4] Trent Shelton, Laura Gassner Otting,[5] and Jon Dorenbos. The show has received accolades, from both guests and media, earning her over a half dozen Communicator Awards for "Best Host", "Best Lifestyle Podcast", among others.
Brunner released her first book through GracePoint Publishing in November of 2021, entitled Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams into Your Next Chapter.[6] The memoir follows Brunner's career journey along with the challenges faced and impactful lessons she learned through her upbringing and being a woman in her field. In 2023, the book was awarded Silver/ Second Place in the "Self-Help" category and a Finalist in the "Memoir/ Biography" category in the annual Feathered Quill Book Awards. It was recommended by Forbes as one of "Four New Books To Help You Regain Momentum On New Year’s Resolutions"[7] and one of "5 Books For The Career-Minded Professionals On Your Holiday Gift List."[8]