Brunn was hired April 9 following the resignation of Corey Boyer who found a job in the private sector. Brunn’s previous job was City Administrator/Treasurer for the City of Foley where she, her husband and two children reside.

 

Brunn grew up in Gilman (five miles north of Foley) and attended Foley High School where she participated in volleyball, softball and basketball.

 

Upon graduation, Brunn wanted to be an accounting consultant so she attended the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management to earn a degree in business information systems and management. She moved on from there to garner a master’s degree in Arts  Management - Human Resources from the College of St. Scholastica and soon was hired at the City of Foley.

 

“I got the gift of accounting and finance from my mother,” Brunn said. “She’s a business manager in Foley and has been inspiring to me.”

 

During this time Brunn  met her future husband, Ryan, and they married in 2006. Sarah achieved her master’s degree soon thereafter and she and Ryan had their first son born (Noah) in 2008. Eli soon followed in 2010.

 

Ryan has been a manager for 12 years for Farm Service Agency and is in charge of offices in Mora and Duluth.

 

Sarah says she loved working in Foley but was looking for a job that had steadier hours so she can spend more time with her family. At Foley, her double duty as clerk and treasurer was taking a toll on her mind, body and soul.

 

“I needed to find a place where I wasn’t stretched to the limit and I could focus more on my strengths and abilities and not be such a challenge to my everyday life,” she said.

 

Brunn says as soon as she placed foot in the offices of the City of Becker, she knew it was a special place.

 

“I knew right away the quality of people here and wanted to be part of it immediately,” she said. “The staff has been great and they made me feel valuable throughout the interview process.”

 

Sarah was subject to two rounds of interviews with Kelli Bourgeois, Troy Malo and Jamie Cassidy to start, then an advanced interview process with Greg Pruszinske and Police Chief Brent Baloun. She was even more impressed with the extensive comprehensive background check the chief conducted to ensure the person hired was a qualified candidate.

 

“After preliminarily accepting the offer from Becker, I informed my previous employer of my decision and the police chief showed up in Foley to do a thorough background check on me with the city,” she said. “That was impressive.”

 

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys playing the piano and singing in church. She also enjoys going to the cabin with her family, cycling, hitting  a few golf balls at Pebble Creek and volunteering for the Gilman Park and Rec Association.

 

Brunn is the niece-in-law to Carol and Jerry Brunn of Becker, where they help facilitate the area senior center at city hall.

 

Because of Sarah’s extensive background as a clerk, treasurer and in information technologies, Pruszinske and city staff see Brunn as an incredibly valuable asset.