Michael joined the Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW) Advancement staff in December 2021, serving as the assistant vice president of Advancement. His primary responsibilities are to supervise and assist the field staff in their major gifts fundraising, supervise the office staff and day-to-day operations, write the annual fund appeals, and build relationships with donors to encourage direct support. Before coming to the Seminary, Michael served four years as an LCMS missionary in Papua New Guinea. As the area business manager, he oversaw LCMS projects and joint projects with a partner church. Together with their leadership, Michael supported their seminary and pre-seminary Bible schools, oversaw church building projects, and assisted remote-area pastors to acquire needed supplies and training. Michael has a degree in business administration. His career has spanned areas in accounting services at local health clinics, retirement services at Lincoln Financial Group, real estate management, and inventory management. He helped manage a family-owned business that he and his wife ran for many years from their home in Fort Wayne. He and his wife have six children, and recently they became grandparents with the arrival of their first grandson.