Inspiring Conversations with Brandon Cunningham of Ham & Associates

Hi Brandon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Originally from Omaha, NE. I spent the early years of my life dodging the drug and gang life that Omaha presents to you if you are not a talented athlete and thank God I was. So I spent a lot of time at practice, games and of course chasing girls which kept out of harm’s way of the drugs and gang life and living past the age of 18. By the age of 12, I had seen more death and drug related activities than I should have at that age so I asked my mom to move to Atlanta with my dad for High School and still to this day I am grateful she said “YES”. I graduated High School from Martin Luther King Jr. on the Eastside. While at MLK I was a 4 sports athlete who played Football, Basketball, Soccer, and ran Track and had plenty of accolades of all types.

The one recognition that I am most proud of is being on Georgia’s Super 11 in football. Coming All the way from Omaha, NE and being named GA’s top Super 11 football player was huge for me. I was also on the Student Council and a part of the Drama Club. At 19 my biggest blessing my son Akeem Cunningham who will be 17 this year was born. He is the most intelligent, well-behaved, and athletic young man and I am honored to be his father. I went on to graduate from Morehouse College as a Student-Athlete lettered in Football, doing great things on and off the field. I made some All-Star teams and all that great stuff but a freak injury cut every pro dream and opportunity I had. So after hanging up my sports career I sat back thinking what I wanted to do next and what career field would suit me best. I decided to lean on an industry that people could not go without, which led me to the property management industry.

With the research I gathered at the time I noticed that everyone could not afford to save money for a down payment on a home, get the necessary approval to buy a home, or may not be in the market to become a homeowner. So a lot of times the only other option is for them to rent an apartment, condo, or a home that meets their family’s needs and desires. I spent close to ten years in the property management industry moving up through the ranks  learning everything that I possibly could under all the positions. I’ve always had an entrepreneur work ethic and mindset from watching my father Mr. Jay Cunningham and my uncle own and operate companies and businesses they were a part of. So as I continued to acquire knowledge it was only right that I started my own company. So I started Ham & Associates LLC back in 2019. Which is an Insurance, Property Management, and Investment Company.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would not call it a smooth road but it was not as rough as a dirt road. I really was navigating the mental aspect of not being able to have a sports career, the challenges of being a young dad, making sure I am setting the right examples, and making the right career choices.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ham & Associates LLC?
Ham & Associates LLC is a company with different departments. The first department is our Insurance; we are licensed and certified to handle all of your insurance needs. Property and Casualty which is (Auto, Home, Renter’s Insurance) along with Life and Health. Our second department is our Property Management; full-service property management, Tenant acquisition, Home locating service, Airbnb management, HOA management, Corporate leasing, and soon-to-be Buying and Selling. Now our third department will be our Investment department; we invest in small companies and participate in joint business ventures. Our first investment is a top-of-the-line Luxury mobile hookah company called “Pretty Little Hookahs (Smoking Grandeur)” of course based here in Atlanta. This company specializes in providing a luxury Hookah service that cultivates the client’s event and shisha smoking experience. Ham & Associates LLC we hang our hats on providing the best of the best service and product that our clients can appreciate and love so we can leave a lasting effect on every person we come in contact with. Which leads me to our company’s motto and belief; “Bring Value to Every Moment”. Adding some type of Value to any involvement to make our community better step by step.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
To anyone looking to advance in any venture make sure that it fits your personality and what you want out of life. No matter what obstacles are in front of you, continue to push forward. My personal motto in business is to make sure you are not moving fast but moving correctly. Moving correctly guarantees that you are able to see everything in front of you and analyze from all angles necessary.