George Braunegg '79

Executive Vice President and Founding Principal

CAST Management Consultants, Inc.

In 1986, George Braunegg founded CAST Management Consultants, Inc. along with two colleagues from KPMG LLP. Today, CAST (Center for Applied Strategy) is a highly regarded boutique management consulting firm that serves the financial services industry. The firm has conducted engagements in Europe, Asia, and South Africa; however, CAST's primary market focus is the United States and Canada.

Consultants News listed CAST as one of the "100 Leading Consulting Firms in North America." CAST clients include highly regarded organizations such as AXA, American Express, Ameriprise, Bank of America, Bank of Montreal, BNY Melon, ING, JP Morgan Chase, Northwestern Mutual, Pacific Life, PNC, Wells Fargo, and others.

Braunegg grew up in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, as the oldest of three children of a steel worker and a stay-at-home mom. He graduated magna cum laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. In May 1979, at the age of 21, Braunegg became the first person to pass the certified public accountant (CPA) examination upon graduation from IUP. Immediately following graduation, Braunegg attended the University of Southern California on a full scholarship and earned an MBA in 1981 from the Marshall School of Business. Upon graduation, Braunegg joined KPMG's (Peat Marwick) Management Consulting Group, where he worked until the founding of CAST in 1986.

In 2005, the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology recognized Braunegg as an Outstanding Entrepreneur. He is a CPA in California and Pennsylvania and also earned the certified treasury professional designation. As a long-time director on the Board of Volunteers of America Los Angeles, Braunegg is a member of the Audit, Finance, and Executive committees. An eagle scout himself, Braunegg also served as assistant scout master. Over the years he has remained active in the Theta Xi Fraternity, serving as the western regional director for several terms. Braunegg currently serves as the leadership advisor for the Theta Xi Chapter at UCLA.

Braunegg lives in Los Angeles with his wife of 27 years, Janet Louie. His son, George, is enrolled at the University of Colorado, Boulder, majoring in finance at the Leeds School of Business. His hobbies include wood working, automobile restoration, and hunting.

Inducted spring 2015