This month marks a major milestone at Performance: Michael Johnson, our Product Manager and a Business Leader, is celebrating 21 years with the company. Starting as an avionics engineer, Michael quickly stepped into new domains — from middleware to digital payments — and has since led key initiatives across aerospace, healthcare, and emerging tech. His career reflects one of technical depth, product insight, and people-first leadership that has helped shape Performance’s direction and culture over the past two decades.
What initially attracted you to join Performance, and how has your perception of it evolved over the past 20+ years?
I started out as a software engineer at Honeywell right out of school, deeply immersed in avionics. It was actually a former coworker, Jamie Breese, who introduced me to Performance — he’d just made the move and spoke highly of it. That led to some early conversations with Tim Bigelow, our founder. I still remember being struck by his energy and the passion he had for building something innovative and meaningful. That kind of vision was contagious.
My first project at Performance was a huge shift — working on the American Express online wallet app. I had zero background in middleware or web development, so it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone. But looking back, that challenge set the tone for what I’ve come to value most about Performance: we grow by being trusted with opportunity. Over the years, I’ve seen the company evolve in scale and capability, but that core spirit of curiosity, trust, and drive hasn’t changed.
Can you recall one or two standout experiences that really stuck with you?
There are two standout moments that have really stuck with me — one deeply personal, and the other just plain unforgettable.
The first was during a really difficult time for my family. Our daughter Claire had serious health issues as a baby, and my wife and I made the decision for her to step away from her job to care for Claire full-time. It was a huge emotional and financial shift for us. When Tim Bigelow, our founder, heard about what we were going through, he showed a level of empathy and support that I’ll never forget. Without me asking, he found a way to help — sincerely and wholeheartedly. That moment reinforced something I had already begun to feel: Performance isn’t just a company, it’s a community where people genuinely look out for each other.
On the lighter side, our annual company trips have been a goldmine of great memories. One that always makes me laugh was a trip to a casino with Percy Sanford. We ended up at a poker table with a guy who looked just like “Boss Hogg” from The Dukes of Hazzard. Naturally, we called him that all night. Afterward, Percy and I somehow ended up hitching a ride back to town in the bed of Boss Hogg’s pickup — in freezing weather. Percy slipped getting in and hurt himself, and we were both laughing like kids all the way back. It was ridiculous and hilarious, and exactly the kind of shared experience that makes this company more than just work.
Between moments of genuine care and spontaneous fun, these memories remind me why I’ve stayed — it’s the people and the culture that make it all worthwhile.
What has Performance taught you about leadership, teamwork, or resilience?
I’ve learned so much through every chapter of my journey at Performance — from my early days as a young engineer, to project lead, team manager, head of products, and now as business leader. At each stage, I’ve worked hard to grow, contribute meaningfully, and evolve as a leader. But one of the most transformative experiences came when our CEO, Raj Ghate, and our founder, Tim Bigelow, made the decision to invest in our leadership team in a truly personal way.
They brought in Elaine Sutton as an executive coach to help shape the kind of leadership culture we wanted at Performance. Elaine didn’t just hand us frameworks or buzzwords — she took the time to work with each of us individually. Through that journey, I learned how to listen with intention, how to navigate tough conversations with clarity and empathy, and how to build true resilience — not just the kind that gets you through hard days, but the kind that makes you stronger and steadier with every challenge.
Before that experience, I’d describe myself as fairly high-strung — always charging forward, often carrying the weight of every challenge. But Elaine’s coaching, and the commitment Raj and Tim made to that process, helped me grow into someone more composed, compassionate, and level-headed. It changed how I lead, and honestly, it changed who I am outside of work too.
That experience taught me that leadership isn’t about control — it’s about awareness, trust, and the ability to adapt with integrity. And that resilience isn’t about gritting your teeth; it’s about learning how to stay grounded while everything around you shifts. I’m incredibly grateful for that growth, and for a company that made it possible.
What’s a project or initiative that made you especially proud to be part of Performance?
It’s hard to pick just one, because over the years I’ve been fortunate to work on so many projects where I genuinely believe my contribution made a difference — not just to the company, but to people’s lives.
Some of the ones that stand out include a revolutionary CT scanner and a handheld ultrasound device that brought life-saving diagnostic access to underserved regions across the world. I’ve also worked on safety-critical aerospace programs — from an FMS upgrade for the 737, to braking controls for the 787, to flight controls for the 777. Each one of these projects mattered deeply. Whether it was making healthcare more accessible or enhancing the safety and reliability of global air travel, I’m proud to have had a hand in making that possible.
What’s made these experiences truly special is the range of roles I’ve been able to play — from engineer to project lead to program manager and even business leader. And at Performance, that kind of opportunity isn’t the exception — it’s the norm. We’re constantly taking on new challenges across industries, and we’re trusted to figure it out, to problem-solve, and to deliver. That’s what really makes me proud: the chance to dive into complex, meaningful work and help our customers succeed in ways that ripple far beyond any one project.
How do you see your role evolving from here?
As I continue this journey with Performance, I’m excited about helping shape the strategic direction of our company — especially as we navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape. I want to ensure we remain the best choice for our customers, not just by staying ahead of technology trends, but by continuing to solve real program challenges with creativity and grit. I’ve always thrived in that space — working closely with customers, building trust, and finding innovative ways to move forward.
On a personal level, I’ve become passionate about CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting — it’s been life-changing for me. My local gym in Tampa, TrainHarder CrossFit, has been a source of strength, discipline, and community. Staying healthy and fit helps me show up as my best self — for my family, my team, and my own peace of mind.
Looking to the future, I’m incredibly excited for life milestones — watching my daughters get married, becoming a grandparent, and eventually settling into a slower rhythm in a rural town, sipping coffee on the porch and soaking in time with my wife, kids, and friends. That’s the life I look forward to — grounded, joyful, and centered around the people I love most.
What I’d love to leave behind at Performance is a strong legacy of leadership — not just through results, but through people. I’ve been fortunate to learn from incredible mentors over the years, and I find real joy in helping others grow into confident, capable leaders themselves. If I can pay forward even a fraction of what’s been given to me, I’ll consider that a success.
At the end of the day, my mindset has always been: work hard, play hard, and most of all, enjoy the journey.
We are grateful for Michael’s 21 years of dedication, insight, and leadership. His impact continues to shape Performance — and we’re excited for what’s ahead.
Looking Ahead: A Well-Deserved Adventure
This July, Michael will be taking his 20-year anniversary trip — a 7-day Alaskan cruise, fully paid for by Performance. Starting with a day of exploration in Seattle, the trip will include glacier views, scenic railways, and stops in coastal towns like Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. It’s a well-earned adventure that celebrates not just the years he’s dedicated to the company, but the impact he’s made along the way.
Learn more about what it’s like to work at Performance or join the team today.
