Michael, a native of Alabama, earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Alabama and his
Master of Public Administration Degree from Georgia State University. He began his local government
career in 1984 as an administrative intern in the County Manager’s Office in Jackson County, Oregon. He
subsequently worked in Eugene, Oregon as a budget analyst before going to work for Gwinnett County,
Georgia.  Though he began work in Gwinnett County as the Budget Manager, he progressed through the
organization to eventually become Assistant County Manager over the course of seven years with the
county.

Michael spent six years as the City Administrator of Alpharetta, Georgia, the fastest growing city in the
state of Georgia.  Between January 1999 and January 2026, Michael has served as the City Manager of
Olathe, Kansas, the longest tenure for anyone to have served in that position.  Olathe has the distinction of
being one of the fastest growing communities  (#33 according to a 2009 U. S. Census estimate) in America
over the last decade and in 2008, Olathe was recognized by Money Magazine as the 11th Best Place to Live
in the country. Olathe is also an award-winning community which has received several national awards
for various innovative programs.

Since arriving in Olathe, Michael has been involved in several community activities. Among his community
service, Michael is: a current member of the Santa Fe Trail Rotary Club; a member of the Executive
Committee of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce Board and the Olathe Economic Development Council ; a
member of the Olathe Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Council; a member of the Kansas State
University Olathe Advisory Board; he has served two stints as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the
Alliance for Innovation, a national organization focused on innovation in local government; and also serves
on the Kansas League of Municipalities Board of Directors, recently ending his second term as President of
that Board. He attends Life Church, Overland Park.

In 2023, Michael was awarded the Michael E. Copeland Leadership Award from Mid-America Nazarene
University. In 2022, he was presented with the Sunflower Award from the Kansas Association of
City/County Management. In 2015, he was recognized with the Buford M. Watson, Jr Award for
Excellence in Public Management by the Kansas Association of City/County Management. In 2007, the
Olathe Character Council, awarded him with the Character Award for City Government. He was selected
and graduated as a member of the 2005 Class of Leadership Kansas and was named Olathe Citizen of the
Year in 2001. Michael was also recognized as one of Olathe’s 150 Most Notable People  (#58) in honor of
Olathe’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 2007.

Michael is married to Holly, and they have two daughters, Rachel and Hannah.