Serving on the NIADA Board of Directors for five years and as the President in 2003, Michael Cunningham never longed for credit for the accomplishments of the Association.
“I was just the quarterback on a team with really good players,” Cunningham said. “Working with the best minds in the industry is so refreshing. They are excited about your business.”
The industry veteran was recognized during the Leadership Awards Luncheon at the NIADA Accelerate 2023 Convention and Expo with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“I don’t feel like I deserve it. It’s like a dream,” Cunningham said.
The University of Arizona graduate and Certified Master Dealer entered the auto industry in 1974 as a salesman at Paulin Cadillac in Tucson, Ariz. After serving as sales manager, he had his own dealership, which he operated from 1979 to 2009, Payless Cars and Trucks in Tucson. He was a four-time Arizona Quality Dealer of the Year, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 2002.
In 1995, he served as the President of the Arizona Independent Automobile Association, where he helped grow the membership to more than 400. In his tenure, the AIADA hired a professional lobbyist, testified before the state legislature, rewrote the bylaws and initiated education seminars at the annual convention.
Cunningham joined the NIADA Board of Directors in 1999. After stints as the treasurer and budget committee chairman, he was elected president in 2003. During his tenure, the association established the Certified Master Dealer program, increased membership to more than 19,000 and established the NIADA Foundation Corp.
After serving as Chairman of the Board, he continued working with NIADA on committees and boards.
“We have listened to our membership and what they are looking for. The fact we’ve established these education seminars is so centered to our dealers’ wants and needs,” Cunningham said. “We are owned and operated by the independent car dealers for the independent car dealers. It makes us the best vehicle to serve dealers. That’s our main purpose. ”
