Faculty Profile for Gene Brenek Jr.

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Gene Brenek is a senior-level creative who spent nearly three decades in the business of building high-profile brands for companies such as American Airlines, AT&T, AARP, Chili’s, Lennox, On the Border, Southwest Airlines and Zales. He began his career as an advertising art director at TM in Dallas and GSD&M in Austin before he transitioned into leading multiple teams as a creative director and then group creative director. He is responsible for co-creating several attention-getting campaigns including Southwest Airlines’ iconic “Wanna Get Away?” creative.

He has won numerous industry awards including the One Show, AAF, Print magazine, and Communication Arts Design Annual. Gene is also the proud recipient of the Austin Advertising Federation’s “Educator of the Year” award in 2020.

Gene brings his agency and management experience into his creative courses by helping his students tap into the power of ideas that are fresh, persuasive and impactful. He recognizes his role as instructor is to foster their ideas and expand their curiosity and confidence all while understanding how vital it is to solve the right business problem. His branding course reaches an even broader range of students who are interested in learning how companies build brands from the inside out and achieve brand loyalty through the power of their positioning and emotional connections.