Kendall Breunig
Principal
Sunset Investors
Nonprofit served: Milwaukee School of Engineering
Service: MSOE Corporation member, regent, philanthropist
For Kendall Breunig, it all started with a construction economics class at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
It was there that Breunig, an architectural engineering major, learned about real estate and investment economics. Six months after he graduated in 1979, he started buying income property.
Credit Lila Aryan Photography
Today, Breunig is principal of Franklin-based Sunset Investors, a group of real estate development entities that develops and operates condominiums, multi-family residential buildings, commercial offices and warehousing. And while it’s just one hat among many for Breunig – whose resume includes president of consulting engineering business Breunig Engineering Inc., managing member of EZ Self Storage LLP, part-owner of Verona-based pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals business Coating Place Inc. and owner of Pritzlaff Events LLC – he credits the MSOE class with placing him on his professional path.
“That is where I got my start,” Breunig said. “I went on to Marquette after that, but the MSOE degree and the construction economics class is really what ended up getting me to become a developer.”
So Breunig gives back to the school. He’s served as a member of the MSOE Corporation since 2002 and on the board of regents since 2015. He lends his expertise to campus planning and building committees and to the school’s architectural engineering classes. He’s also credited with generous philanthropic contributions to the school, including gifts to the Kappa Eta Kappa fraternity and rowing team, both of which he was involved with as a student.
“He’s a huge contributor to us,” said John Walz, president of MSOE. “Not only because of his success as a businessperson in the community and what he’s done, but also as a tireless servant for our university.”
Walz said he relies on Breunig’s expertise in the real estate arena.
“We’re always getting contacted about real estate opportunities by people who might want to sell us a piece of land,” Walz said. “And he’s the kind of person I can call up and say, ‘What do you think about this?’ and at the drop of a hat, he will go look at it and give his honest assessment.”
Breunig said he gives back to see the university continue doing what it does best – producing engineers.
“We need more engineers,” he said.
For his contributions, Breunig received an honorary doctor of engineering degree from MSOE and delivered the keynote address during the university’s fall commencement in November.
“He’s really committed to this place,” Walz said. “He really loves MSOE.”
