While talking to customers, Mike would hear about concerns and the fears they had about their children learning to drive. Mike developed a customer appreciation program for his clients to educate their new drivers about the financial and emotional ramifications if they were not focused while they were driving. Mike’s presentation included showing examples of vehicles at his collision shop mixed with storytelling of incidents that he witnessed firsthand. This informative education initiative was greatly appreciated by both the parents and their young drivers. In 2006 this initiative was put on hold when Mike became the CEO for Make-A-Wish Eastern Ontario®.
In 1999 Mike along with a few others started Eastern Ontario’s Make-A-Wish chapter by granting one magical wish while raising $15,000. For 7 years Mike volunteered as a member of the Board helping grow the wishes granted to 20+ a year while raising $230,000 annually. In 2006 after selling his collision business, Mike became CEO for Make-A-Wish Eastern Ontario®. A position he held for 11 years before retiring in 2017. During this time Make-A-Wish Eastern Ontario had grown to be able to grant 80+ wishes a year while raising $1.5 million annually.
Upon retirement, with distracted driving reaching critical levels, Mike revisited the WE CARE FOCUS Distracted Driving Education program that he had created. With a renewed desire to make our community roadway’s safe, Mike with the help of many volunteers and community supporters, revised the program and is now offering education sessions.
Other notable highlights:
- 2012 – Awarded a medal for being an “Agent of Change” in our community from the City of Ottawa.
- 2012 – Life Coach Certification – 200+ Hours Training Coaching Navigator based in Ottawa.
- 2012 – Certified Trainer Level 1 & Level 2 (D.I.S.C.). – Personality INSIGHTS Inc. Accredited Trainer in the Model of Human Behavior.
- 2013 – Graduate – Canadian Association Professional Speakers.
- 2014 – Graduate – Coaching Navigator Conflict Evolution Ambassador program
- 2014 – Lead a new community organization initiative called “Playing it Forward for Kids”, whose mandate is to educate kids to pay it forward in their lives. We are currently raising $75,000 annually to benefit community charities and “grass roots” Community orginizations.
- 2017 – Volunteer development coach for three “grass roots” Charities/Community Organizations.
- 2017 – Business Development for the Collision Industry in our community.
- 2019 – Fleet FOCUS Distracted Driving sessions – WE CARE FOCUS “Private” Home Sessions – WE CARE FOCUS
Community Complimentary Sessions.
