On March 25, 2009, the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) signed a contract with Sam Brunelli, of Team Builders International (TBI), to serve as its new lobbying firm. Brunelli brings to the table an extensive portfolio of experiences and contacts. He served President Ronald Reagan as director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Education. In 1988, he became the executive director and CEO of the American Legislative Exchange Counsel. During his eight-year tenure, the ALEC became the nation's foremost legislative organization dedicated to limited government, state sovereignty and free-market enterprise. In 1996, Mr. Brunelli formed Team Builders International to lobby at the federal, state, and local level.
In addition to his lobbying experience, Brunelli also has direct experience with the benefits of acupuncture treatment. After college, he was a walk-on left defensive end and left offensive tackle, starting for the Denver Broncos for nearly a decade. Having received acupuncture with considerable success as a past NFL football star, he highly respects its use in sports rehabilitation.
