On this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, host Katie sits down with Christianne Brunini, Chief Growth Officer at 30|90 Marketing and founding leader of the Magnolia chapter of the Women in Affordable Housing Network.

Christianne’s career path wound through PR for luxury brands, culinary school, and employee wellness before landing in affordable housing — and she explains how every stop along the way shaped her current specialty: what she calls “brand infrastructure.” She breaks down how 30|90 Marketing helps AEC firms, developers, and housing authorities move beyond surface-level fixes (like “just redo our website”) to build cohesive, long-term storytelling strategies.

The conversation covers the Comms Exchange podcast, why housing authorities often lack a true strategic plan, the power of consistency in personal and organizational branding, and the origin story behind the Magnolia WAHN chapter — including its annual clay shoot fundraiser and new partnership with Dress for Success.

This episode is a must-listen (or watch) for anyone in affordable housing, AEC, or community development who wants to understand why communication isn’t an afterthought — it’s preventative maintenance for your organization’s future.

What You’ll Learn
• Why “brand infrastructure” matters more than a one-off website or logo redesign
• How to help clients articulate what they actually need vs. what they think they’re asking for
• Why most housing authorities don’t have a true strategic plan — and what that costs them
• The role storytelling and awards play in influencing policy and funding decisions
• How consistency (not perfection) builds trust and personal brand over time
• The story behind founding a WAHN chapter and building community outside of work
• Why communications should be treated as a core line item in every development, not an afterthought

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro to Changemakers & guest introduction
01:00 – Christianne’s career origin story begins
02:00 – PR life: Tiffany & Co., Sony, and luxury clients
03:00 – Culinary school, employee wellness, and meeting her husband Tony
04:00 – Path to Chief Growth Officer at 30|90 Marketing
05:00 – How 30|90 Marketing came together
06:00 – Embracing a non-linear career path
07:00 – How affordable housing “unlocked” her skill set
08:00 – What clients typically struggle with
09:00 – Digging past the initial ask to the real problem
10:00 – Case study: a build-to-rent developer’s rebrand
11:00 – Defining “brand infrastructure”
12:00 – The doorknob analogy: why small decisions matter
13:00 – Helping clients articulate what they can’t name
14:00 – The power of asking the right questions
15:00 – Current favorite project: Harris County Housing Authority
16:00 – Do housing authorities have strategic plans?
17:00 – Moving beyond the HUD mission statement
18:00 – Opportunity for small and mid-size agencies
19:00 – Intro to The Comms Exchange podcast
20:00 – Guest spotlight: Michael Hecton & New Orleans’ Super Bowl rebrand
21:00 – Breaking the stigma around personal branding
22:00 – Consistency over perfection
23:00 – The “10,000 hours” of showing up
24:00 – Busting myths about affordable housing
25:00 – Why award submissions are storytelling tools
26:00 – Building momentum and the “ripple effect”
27:00 – The industry-wide push for better storytelling
28:00 – Origin story of the Magnolia WAHN chapter
29:00 – Building a co-chair partnership and community
30:00 – The annual clay shoot fundraiser
31:00 – Networking with financiers and developers
32:00 – New partnership with Dress for Success
33:00 – How the Dress for Success donation drive works
34:00 – Closing thoughts and book plug
35:00 – Why communications should be a line item on every project