Michael is an award winning author, photographer, coach and international speaker and the Youth Pastor at Faith Community Church in Janesville, Wisconsin.
He founded HeartTouchers.com and Heart4Teens.com which are inspirational web sites and email lists with thousands of world-wide subscribers and over 10 million visitors in the past five years.
Michael authored the book: Heart Touchers "Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter" and his stories have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines around the world and in 34 other inspirational books including:
Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul
Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Love and Friendship
Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul
Chicken Soup for the Pre-Teen Soul 2
Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christian Teen Talk
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Kindness Matters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Too Funny
Stories for the Extreme Teen's Heart
Stories for a Teen's Heart 2
Stories for a Teen's Heart 3
Stories From a Soldier's Heart
God's Way for Fathers
God's Way for Teens
God's Way for Graduates
God's Way for Couples
God's Way for Teachers
God Allows U-Turns
God Allows U-Turns: American Moments
God Allows U-Turns For Teens
Heartwarmers
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Story Collection
The Miracle of Boys
A Man of Honor
Smiles for Dads
A Man After God's Heart: When a Father's Spirit Soars
Journeys of Friendship
HeartStrings
American Sailors and United States Marines at War and Peace
Echoes From the Halls
Swift Silent and Surrounded
Creating Emotionally Safe Schools (Interview).
Michael won the 2005 Storytelling World Resource award from Storytelling Magazine, chosen from among hundreds of stories, books, and recordings.
Michael was honored in 2000 by Heartwarmers with the title: Heartwarmer Gem as one of their most beloved writers -- "those who have consistently contributed outstanding and memorable works that have captured the hearts and minds of their members around the world."
He appeared on national TV in a thirty minute interview on the show "Book Tours with Corinne Edwards" (Wisdom Television Network) and recently appeared on the morning TV talk show: The Morning Blend on TMJ 4 NBC in Milwaukee. He has also been interviewed on regional TV shows for his writing. Michael is also a motivational speaker, speaking mostly at high schools, churches, and corporate settings, and was the keynote speaker on "Taking Time for Parenting" for the 2001 Farm Progress Days, one of the nation's largest agricultural shows.
He has also spoken in Asia and Europe for World Team's Asia Area and Europe Area Conferences. He will be speaking at ICSB International High School in Budapest Hungary for their Spiritual Impact Week this spring.
He also owns and operates Video Imagery, a video production business that has produced over 6000 videos for businesses and families across the nation, specializing in memory videos (transferring photos and home movies over to video), corporate videos, weddings and basketball training DVD's, including internationally marketed DVD's for Bo Ryan (UW Wisconsin), Buzz Williams (Marquette) , Bill Self (Kansas), Mark Gottfried (NC State), Tom Herrion (University of Marshall), Matt Bollant (University of Illinois - Women), Jerry Petitgoue (Wisconsin's all time winningest basketball coach) and many others.
He is a Federation of Outdoor Volleyball Men's Open Sand Doubles Champion and an eight-time Gold Medallist in volleyball for the Badger State Games (Wisconsin's State Olympics). He is also a high school girls' basketball coach at Clinton High School (2003 Division 3 State Champion Lady Cougars), and a certified USA Junior Olympic Girls' 18 and under volleyball coach.
Michael is an avid reader (he always has a good book going) and shares a love for the outdoors and wildlife with his wife and sons. They especially enjoy camping, fishing, and hiking.
You can e-mail Michael at: HeartTouchers@aol.com
