Started in 2007, 1st TEAM Management is led by our Founder and Owner, Mike Cunningham. Mike has more than 35 years of experience working with “First in Class” small, medium, and Fortune 500 companies and municipalities - primarily in the areas of Executive Coaching, Human Resources consulting, leadership development, succession planning, training, High Performance Work Teams, corporate acquisitions/startups/shutdowns, contract negotiations and labor relations, unions and union avoidance, arbitration, safety, payroll, purchasing, and more.  He is a Certified Executive Coach and a highly sought-after public speaker across the nation on topics surrounding selection, training, and leadership development. 

 

After earning his Human Resources degree from Louisiana Tech University, Mike began his career as the HR Leader in one of the largest converting facilities in the paper industry.  Within a few short years, he managed the Human Resources, Labor Relations, and safety for 11 facilities over 7 states, specializing in new facility start-ups and acquisitions, and the implementation of High Performance Work Teams for the entire company.  This led to additional corporate-level responsibilities within large/Fortune 500 organizations across the United States.  He has been recognized and received many awards, special recognition, and certifications from industry leaders, company executives and business owners, and even State Governors - including being named a "Kentucky Colonel" by the Kentucky State Legislature for his groundbreaking work with major corporations within the state. 

 

Mike's unique combination of hands-on experience with hourly, salaried, corporate-level, salesforce, and C-suite employees reflects his ability to meet his clients at their current place and show them the path to further improvement. Mr. Cunningham is supported by a host of additional first-chair experts who are recognized as leaders in their respective fields.