Michael Cully

About Me

Michael Cully is a skilled leader and entrepreneur in the public, private, and government sectors. He has a track record for entering an organization and leaving it in a better condition than when he found it. His versatile skillset, coupled with his passion for making the world a better place, has led to progressively more impactful roles and made him a respected businessman.

Mike Cully: Early Life

Michael Cully grew up in California. He attended Jesuit High School, in Sacramento, California. The high school strongly emphasizes the importance of serving the community by caring for the environment, looking out for the needs of the marginalized and less fortunate, and working for social change. The high school's teachings and strong emphasis on leadership have clearly influenced Cully his entire life and helped shape him into the leader he is today.

Cully later studied at the University of the Pacific and received a Bachelor of Science, Business, and Marketing in 1996. He later moved to San Diego State University to further his studies and received an MBA in Global Business and Entrepreneurship in 2011. While there, he participated in the SDSU Men's Crew Team and joined the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

Mike Cully: Early Career

Immediately following his graduation from the University of the Pacific, Cully embarked on a career as an on-air journalist that would last more than a decade. Throughout that time he worked for NBC, CBS and finished his career working for FOX news for 7 years.

In a career pivot, Cully took his talents to the public sector, where he served as the CEO for the Visalia Chamber of Commerce for several years, followed by time as the leader of the San Diego East County Chamber. In both cases he used his blend of transformative leadership to rebuild and reinvigorate both organizations, leaving them poised for success in the future.

Shortly after graduating with his MBA, Cully got a job working in the private sector at Daimler AG-owned car2go, starting in a managerial role and later becoming part of the global leadership team. He managed more than 130 reports in 15 markets throughout North America, helped the company successfully launch and manage ten new locations, and handled all the logistics for the new brand offices, including finding and training new employees. He defined and instituted operational protocols to ensure long-term success and acted as a company spokesperson.

Subsequently, Cully worked as the Principal for MDC Global Consulting, LLC. His expertise in global business and entrepreneurship came to the fore as he worked to grow and rebuild businesses, perform holistic operations analyses, and develop strategic business plans.

Mike Cully: Using Business Skills in a Government Position

In 2017, Mike Cully moved from the private sector to government work. As the President and CEO of the San Diego North Economic Development Corporation, he rebuilt the organization from the inside out, making it a powerhouse in the San Diego region. Furthermore, Michael Cully boosted the areas' competitiveness as a business venue and worked to give local businesses incentives to remain in town. Eric Coyne, the field representative for California State Senator Melissa Hurtado, said of Cully, "[Cully] raised tons of money for various business endeavors, grew membership significantly during the housing recession, and promoted the heck out of our county."

Upon moving north to Oregon at the end of 2017, Cully became the Executive Director of the League of Oregon Cities in Salem, Oregon. As a seasoned visionary and agent of change, he works with 23 employees to provide advocacy, legal support, and services for more than 240 cities in the Beaver State. Mike Cully is also an executive on the Oregon Mayor's Association board, The Oregon City Manager's Association, CityCounty Insurance Services, and the Oregon Risk Pool. He also served as a board member of the National League of Cities (NLC).

While in Oregon, Cully has been the Convener of the Oregon Electric Vehicle Collaborative since 2018. His passion for clean transportation options is contagious as he inspires people and local governments to take action to curb air pollution that is contributing to climate change.

Mike Cully: Personal Life

As the world came to a standstill in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown, Cully decided to use the extra time to go back to school. He enrolled in Said Business School, University of Oxford, to study executive leadership. He also studied with the London School of Economics and Political Science, taking courses in Public Policy design and development.

Michael Cully has always had a passion for volunteer work. He especially enjoys helping educational institutions, promoting economic empowerment, and improving the environment by promoting environmentally-friendly forms of transportation, especially electric vehicles. When Cully lived in California, he worked as a trustee for San Diego State University Alumni Board, helping to improve student engagement and fiscal responsibility. He later worked on the marketing board for the same university, using his business acumen to offer expert direction and advice to help the department reach its goals. Cully later worked for Cleantech San Diego and most recently served as co-chair for the League of Minority Voters Liberty and Hope Awards event.

When Mike Cully has time, he enjoys studying French. He also loves Mexican food and international travel. He particularly enjoys spending time in the Caribbean, taking in the views, exploring old shipwrecks, and sampling the local food. Cully is married and has a six-year-old son, a 14-year-old stepdaughter and he loves to spend time with his family at home and abroad.