Mike is a native of Cynthiana, KY, less than 20 miles from the Kentucky Horse Park and grew up in Carrollton. He is a graduate of Georgetown College with a degree in Business Administration and Communication Arts. Mike began his career in tourism, working for the Kentucky Departments of Parks and Tourism immediately after college. He has been involved in the administrations of Kentucky’s last nine governors, most recently serving as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism.

During his career in tourism, Cooper served on numerous boards, including Travel South USA, the Southeast Tourism Society, the National Council of State Travel Directors, the Kentucky Tourism Council, the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Kentucky Folk Art Center, and the 2010 FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games.

After serving on the EEI Board for over 30 years, most recently as President, Mike stepped off the board in 2022 to become EEI’s 6th Executive Director. He brings to his new position over forty years of experience in the Tourism Industry and is proud to have worked at the 1978 horse trials as a golfcart driver while attending the University of Kentucky.