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Michael E. Cunningham, CAE

Vice President, Publications
Midwest
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About Freelancer

With more than two decades of leadership in association activities, publishing, strategic planning, and operational management—most recently as Vice President of Publications at the American College of Healthcare Executives—I bring a proven track record of driving digital transformation, revenue growth, and performance excellence in mission-driven organizations.

At ACHE, I spearheaded initiatives that grew digital sales from under $300,000 to over $1.8 million, while leading a team of twelve in producing high-quality books and journals that served both academic and executive audiences. I collaborated with leading associations, developed integrated marketing strategies, and managed multimillion-dollar budgets to align publishing programs with organizational goals. My ability to pair data-driven decision-making with innovative problem-solving has consistently delivered measurable results, from expanding educational reach to increasing postgraduate fellowship hiring participation by 400%.

Throughout my career—spanning higher education publishing, corporate training, and association leadership—I have demonstrated the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, implement process improvements, and lead cross-functional teams to success. I am particularly passionate about aligning content strategy with audience needs, ensuring that an association’s resources not only inform but also inspire action and engagement.

I welcome the opportunity to offer my expertise in strategic marketing, member engagement, operational excellence, and publishing leadership.

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Education

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1992 Master's degree--Journalism
University of Iowa
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1991 Bachelor's degree--English and Spanish
Wabash College

Work & Experience

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August 2015 - March 2025 Vice President, Publications
American College of Healthcare Executives

• Spearheaded digital publishing efforts that supported higher education classroom adoptions into more than 200 programs. • Drove digital transformation and revenue growth, significantly increasing digital sales from under $300,000 to more than $1.8M. • Served in senior management position that ensured timely, accurate, and quality production of ACHE's books and journals. • Led team of 12 publishing professionals who planned and oversaw acquisitions, developed editorials, promoted sales and marketing for all HAP publications, including peer-review process and editorial board activities. • Delivered primary business and operations leadership for journal publishing efforts through Wolters Kluwer for 10+ years. • Promoted long-term strategic planning and program development for publishing division that supported ACHE's overall mission. • Actively collaborated with the Association of University Programs in Health Administration on education materials and support. • Developed and copublished the annual Futurescan periodical alongside the Society of Health Marketing and Strategic Development (a division of the American Hospital Association). • Increased hiring manager participation by more than 400% of healthcare organizations looking to hire postgraduate fellows. • Fulfilled comprehensive event planning for membership events over a two-year period. • Engaged as a primary staff liaison for organizational initiatives aligned with the national Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. • Served as Association Forum of Chicagoland Volunteer, Publications Shared Interest Group/Chair and 40 Under 40 Annual Awards/Chair (five years).

AMCI & Other Certifications

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2016 Certified Association Executive

Reviews

$50.00 - $70.00 / hr