At Premier Automation, we believe that industrial modernization is not just about keeping up with technology; it’s about adapting to new challenges and shaping the future as technology evolves. 

That vision comes directly from the top. The president of Premier Automation and leading expert in automation and drive systems in the U.S, Mike Gunniers, leads our teams with an engineer’s problem-solving mindset and a people-first approach, empowering those inside and outside the company. We sat down with Gunniers to learn more about his early influences, his leadership style, the mission of Premier Automation, and what he sees the future looking like for automation and AI. 

Early Influences

Growing up in Penn Hills, located just outside of Pittsburgh, Mike’s passion for solving problems began early. Shaped by the Pittsburgh engineering community, inspired by math and science in school, and later joining the Westinghouse Young Engineers Program, Mike’s path towards becoming an engineer leader seemed inevitable. 

He recalled being surprisingly motivated by a negative experience: a teacher once told him he’d ‘never be a good engineer’ - a comment that fueled his determination to prove them wrong. He stated that this helped him learn that turning negative experiences into positive outcomes is crucial as you grow in your career.  

Mike also learned through hands-on projects at home, like helping his parents renovate their house.  

“My dad had no electrical experience or knowledge, and nor did I, but I ended up wiring his whole basement and rewiring quite a bit,” Mike recalled. 

This mix of community influence, education, and practical problem-solving laid the foundation for both his engineering career and his approach to leadership. 

Leadership Philosophy

For Mike, leadership is more than driving growth, it’s about unlocking the potential of his team through several key philosophies. In describing what makes a good leader, he emphasized the importance of words and the Golden Rule. 

“You have to mean what you say and say what you mean; words have weight.” He also spoke on the responsibility of decision-making, stressing the need to be confident in your choices and to act in the best interests of many.  

His advice for engineers who are aspiring to lead? Work hard, be patient, and don’t force it. Growth, he believes, comes naturally, and leaders should never hold their teams back. That mindset is reflected through the work of Premier Labs, a corporate venture studio, giving innovators - both within and beyond Premier Automation – the chance to explore new ideas and expand their careers. 

“I feel like I have this moral obligation to pull the greatness out of (our team). A lot of the reasons why I want to grow the company is not for any of my own accomplishments, but it's to achieve their greatness and see that their potential is so big,” Mike said. “What we have already accomplished is great, but we could do so much more, for the country, for our people, for our region, and nothing would make me happier than seeing that unfold.”  

At the core of Premier’s culture is a philosophy Mike calls “solutions-first.” 

“We’ve always outperformed people’s expectations because we think solutions first rather than selling first,” he explained.  

Mike often describes Premier as more of an “Edison company” than a “Tesla company”—practical, hands-on, and focused on solving real industrial problems. Where others may lean into theory and vision, Premier thrives on applied innovation that keeps factories running and industries moving forward. 

This mindset, paired with his humility, defines his leadership, as Mike is quick to credit the talent of those around him: 

 “The humbling part of it is like, wow, they have immense talents. They could go anywhere. I feel like we have guys that could run NASA.”  

By leading with clarity, responsibility, and a focus on empowering others, Mike fosters a culture where both Premier’s teams and its customers can succeed. 

Premier’s Impact Across Industries

When asked what differentiates Premier Automation from others in the industry, Mike’s answer was simple: talent, passion, and results.  

“Our guys are just really, really good. That’s first and foremost. If you’re in our space of making factories work or supplying equipment in factories, you’ve got to be really good to grow and to be noticed,” he explained. 

That strength is built on more than skill alone. Premier Automation is part of a rare lineage that has lived the transitions of industrial power – from steam and MG sets to today’s IGBTs. Our solutions today incorporate knowledge passed down from the people who built those legacy technologies—expertise that connects generations of engineers and continues to shape how we design and deliver modern systems. It’s a level of technical continuity few others can claim, and it remains one of Premier’s greatest advantages. 

As Mike puts it, “The stuff we’re upgrading – we got it. We know how to do it.”  

With that foundation, Premier’s expertise spans many industries – from metals to aerospace to data centers and even the entertainment industry. Mike recalled the impact of projects that many people have experienced firsthand. 

“There’s almost nothing in the news on a daily basis that we don’t have an impact on, so that’s been really special.” 

Honoring the Past, Building the Future

Premier Automation’s journey began with Mike’s curiosity, persistence, and sense of timing. As U.S. companies increasingly outsourced manufacturing and even engineering talent, he saw a gap that needed to be filled. 

“I’d describe myself as an accidental entrepreneur,” Mike said. “I just walked through doors as they opened.” 

Along the way, his work has earned national recognition, including winning Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. But for Mike, the real reward has always been “building the base”—helping manufacturers succeed, sustaining jobs, and supporting families in the community. 

That willingness to seize opportunities shaped Premier’s early success and continues to drive its growth today.  

Mike now sees a permanent “mind shift” that automation is inevitable, and manufacturers around the world must embrace it to stay competitive. With new challenges arising, like labor shortages, interest rates, tariffs, closed markets, and regional regulatory differences, Premier Automation has stepped up to fill in the gaps: the reshoring of American manufacturing, the rise of electrification, and the integration of AI into automation. 

“Who’s going to help AI get to that next level? That’s going to be us,” he said. “When you look at this intersection of electrification, AI, and automation—that’s where we play. And it’s exciting to see where we’re going to go with this technology.” 

Even though the future is uncertain, Mike’s optimism is clear. 

“I feel like we’re going to look back, and this will feel like the Dark Ages,” he said. “It’s exciting—and a little scary—but we’ll be there helping America through this process.” 

For Mike Gunniers, the future of Premier Automation is bigger than growth targets or industry accolades. It’s about honoring the journey that brought us here, appreciating the people and technology that make progress possible, and building a future where his team, his customers, and his community can succeed.