Tony Murphy, Operations Research Analyst, Social Security Administration, Retired Major, USAF
“I’ve been an operations research analyst for the Social Security Administration (SSA) for six years. I am also a retired major in the United States Air Force where I served for 27 years in a variety of maintenance and staff jobs including six-month deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. I have worked for a wide variety of leaders over my 33 years of service and Michael Hales is by far one of the most effective ones I ever had the pleasure of serving under.
I worked for him for four years (2018 to 2022) when he was a division chief for SSA’s Office of Quality Review. He had a common-sense, down-to-earth leadership approach and always faithfully supported and empowered his people to complete SSA’s critical quality assurance mission. He had the rare ability to recognize everyone’s talents and potential and then use it to everyone’s maximum benefit all while continuously instilling trust and morale throughout the organization.
Michael was always cool and confident under pressure too: When the COVID pandemic occurred in 2020 and SSA was forced to move to a full telework posture, Michael quickly and calmly developed creative solutions to ensure his staff of 30 could continue to effectively communicate, collaborate, and perform in a fully virtual environment.”
David M. Reever, Senior Pastor, Abundant Life Church
“For a total of 10 years, Mike and Michelle Hales served at our local ministry—Abundant Life Church. Throughout that time, they demonstrated their leadership abilities in a variety of ways, both as practitioners and instructors. They led teams of leaders in accomplishing different aspects of the church's mission. And they participated in many leadership training efforts, presenting content on a wide variety of leadership topics, such as emotional intelligence, trust, teamwork, communication and more.
As Operations Manager, Michelle created standard operating procedures for a variety of church workloads and facilitated effective collaboration among a diverse group of ministry leads.
Leadership is their passion and they demonstrated it time and again by sharing vast amounts of resources that our church leaders and congregants consumed and continue to utilize.
For those reasons it is my pleasure to recommend Mike and Michelle—M2 Leadership Consulting—for any training and organizational leadership needs you may have.”
Jason O’Daniel, Director, Social Security Administration
“Michael Hales is an outstanding leadership expert whose deep experience and engaging style make him an exceptional speaker and mentor. His recent leadership training was thought-provoking and transformative, challenging me to reflect on my own leadership approach, the impact of my actions, and the importance of emotional intelligence in fostering strong interpersonal relationships.
Michael's ability to connect with his audience is remarkable. He doesn't just present leadership theories—he brings them to life with real-world examples, actionable insights, and an authentic passion for developing leaders. His discussions on emotional intelligence and self-awareness were particularly impactful, providing me with new perspectives on how to lead with empathy, clarity, and confidence.
What sets Michael apart is his ability to make leadership personal. He encourages deep reflection, helping attendees recognize their strengths and areas for growth while equipping them with practical tools to enhance their leadership effectiveness. His wealth of experience is evident in every lesson, yet he remains approachable and genuinely invested in the growth of those he teaches.
I left the training inspired and equipped with a renewed commitment to refining my leadership style. Michael Hales is a true expert in his field, and I highly recommend his training to anyone looking to elevate their leadership skills and make a lasting impact.”
Greg Frazier, Senior Pastor, First Pentecostal Church of Jackson, MS
“If you're looking to create growth opportunities for your organizational team and take the next step in equipping them for success, I highly recommend M2 Leadership Consulting.
We have worked closely with Mike and Michelle over the last few years regarding leadership development and organizational management. They offered multiple solutions, one of which was a leadership seminar with sessions on teamwork, communication, and emotional intelligence that provided so much value to our volunteer teams. Mike and Michelle also spearheaded the creation of small groups including training and overseeing the team of facilitators, as well as writing a semester of engaging curriculum. Not only have they assisted with leadership development, but also organizational management such as leadership position descriptions and other documentation.
Mike and Michelle possess unique skills and abilities that resonate with people. They are not only able to provide value through their expertise and knowledge, but also to uncover value within people. The spirit of excellence with which they qualify and equip others, transforms into an energy that propels the team forward.
If you are wanting to truly invest in the members of your organizational team, there's no better way than through M2 Leadership Consulting.”
