The early years

Born across the Indiana/Ohio state line at the closest hospital, in Hicksville, Ohio, I started life with a disposable first name. My mother liked the sound of Michael John better than John Michael. She never intended to call me Michael and thought M. John would sound distinguished some day. In reality, M. is usually mistaken for Mr., and I seldom use it anymore. My dad went back to college when I was in the first grade in Avilla, Indiana. He was and is a minister, now supposedly retired, so we moved around northern Indiana every four years, Teegarden in middle school and Nappanee for high school. Since high school is when you learn how smart you think you are, I call Nappanee my home town.

The Purdue years
	I learned how much I didn't know while I was getting my Chemical Engineering degree from Purdue University. The MBA came many years later when I grew up.

Working for a living
	I spent 32 years in responsible positions in two companies, building and selling some pretty impressive equipment. Some of it was used for pollution control, some of that also used to recover chemicals or energy for reuse, and some other systems were used to make corn syrup. It was interesting work.

Working for a loving
	In 2003, I was a victim of corporate down-sizing. It was just the kick in the seat I needed to start doing what I wanted to do for a living rather than follow the safe route I had followed while raising a family. Now I split my time several ways, consulting, writing, and pursuing other interests, such as my hobby of amateur astronomy.

Family
	I've been blessed with a wonderful wife and an extended family of two sons, two daughters, their four spouses, and four grandchildren with another on the way. Life is good.