Shortly after graduating from Oregon State University, Mike chose to follow a paycheck, not his passion, in search of an illustrious six-figure income, complete with a corner office and city views. After four years of climbing the proverbial corporate ladder, he chose to honor his passion for youth leadership development, which began with a return to school and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).
From the moment he entered the classroom as a 4th/5th grade teacher, Mike’s mission was to infuse real life into his instruction. Each day, his students received a daily dose of personal development, whether it was part of the curriculum or not.
In 2007, Mike was one of 150 teachers from across the country invited to attend the esteemed Freedom Writers Teacher Symposium in Long Beach, California. Led by Erin Gruwell, whose story was depicted in the feature film Freedom Writers, this experience served as a defining moment in Mike’s career. He returned to the classroom, eager to make a bigger difference in the lives of all students; a difference that would extend well beyond the four walls of a classroom. This spark for change would soon be realized.
After ten years as a classroom teacher, Mike fulfilled a dream in 2009 by launching a dynamic youth leadership company. KaleidoEye quickly became a key provider of leadership development for schools and families throughout Arizona. Since KaleidoEye’s inception, Mike has broadened his reach to include sports teams, businesses, and various professional organizations.
With a firm understanding of the social and emotional needs of people, Mike has developed innovative leadership content that can be administered in a variety of settings.
To date, Mike has shared this powerful content with thousands of people (young and old) and is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to impact so many lives.