Lisa Cunningham
Lisa Cunningham is a seasoned project manager and journeyman electrician with more than 35 years of experience in the construction and HVAC controls industry. She currently works with the Innovative Air Controls Division at Innovative Air, Inc. in Boise, Idaho, where she designs and manufactures custom UL 508A–certified electrical control panels and supports large commercial HVAC projects. Known for her technical depth and hands-on approach, Lisa plays a critical role in bridging engineering, sales, and field execution to ensure complex systems perform as intended.
Lisa’s career began in the trades in the late 1980s and steadily progressed into leadership roles, including more than two decades as a journeyman electrician and project foreman with Power 3 Technical Services. Over the years, she has led controls installations on major commercial buildings, working extensively with direct digital controls, variable frequency drives, and large-scale HVAC equipment. A notable highlight of her career includes leading controls work for the Simplot World Headquarters project in Boise—an achievement that reflects both her technical expertise and her ability to manage high-visibility, mission-critical work.
Grounded in a philosophy of honesty, teamwork, and accountability, Lisa believes success in the trades comes from being qualified, persistent, and willing to stand up for others. She completed licensure coursework through Boise State University and holds a UL 508A manufacturer qualification, earned in 2024. Beyond her professional work, Lisa is actively involved in community and charitable efforts, including regional rodeo organizations and youth-focused fundraising initiatives, and she is recognized as a role model for women pursuing long-term, successful careers in skilled trades.
• Journeyman Electrician
• UL508A Manufacturer Qualification
• Boise State University
• Eastern Oregon University
• Blue Mountain Community College- Associate's
• Cold Night Rodeo Foundation
• Cold Night Rodeo Foundation Western Heritage Programs
• Youth Rodeo Events
• Rascal Rodeo for Disabled Children and Adults
• Boys and Girls Club
What do you attribute your success to?
I actually attribute it to my mother. My mother has always told me that we are capable of anything, and to encourage other women and children to always aim for their goals. She's always been a very strong, or was, always a very strong person in my life teaching me that. She always said I was capable of everything, and that belief has carried me through my entire career in this male-dominated field.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was: Don't ever let anyone bully you. You be yourself, you know you're qualified, you go out there and take things by the reins. As a woman in the trades, which is a male-dominant trade by all means, being an electrician and being out in construction, I always did just that, and it always ended up making me be the foreman. Every job, every company I've worked for, I have ended up being the foreman, because you don't give up, you just keep going. You're one of the same. You're no different than anybody else on the job site, other than what you put into it. You never let anyone bully you. You know yourself, go and do whatever you want.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Go after it. If this is a field that interests you, go after it. Don't quit. Just, you can do it. Look up to other people that will help you through it, and continue on. My biggest thing is I want other girls to see this and know, come on, you got this. You can do it. At my age, I'm in retirement, and my biggest thing is I want the other women to jump into this field as us elders step away. I want other girls to know they can do it, that it is available to you. Grab ahold of it by the horns and go.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say the biggest challenges, especially as a woman, are going to be strength. You know, so you obviously want to work harder, work smarter, not harder, because strength is always an issue when you're a woman in the construction field. As for opportunities, there are so many opportunities for women in construction. In any field that you choose, you just need to look for them and go do it. Just go after it, as I said.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Always be honest. And always be there for your coworker. You always stand up for them and help them through any difficulties that they're having. My biggest thing is just always be honest with everyone. Honesty is the foundation of everything I do, both at work and in my personal life.