Mike brings nearly 30 years of experience in the industrial automation and manufacturing industry. As a Mechanical Engineer, he has successfully launched hundreds of automation solutions across various sectors, including food and beverage, water and wastewater, plastics, security and detention, life sciences, medical devices, and more. He is passionate about learning new technologies and staying current with industry trends in factory automation, constantly seeking ways to innovate and improve processes.
In the 1990s, Mike worked as a project engineer in the burgeoning plastics recycling industry, managing projects across six plants nationwide. During this time, specialized equipment for recycling was scarce. We had to either repurpose machinery from other industries or build our own from scratch. My expertise was in mechanical design, but I didn’t know how to make my designs function. After spending countless nights and weekends learning basic relay logic, Mike discovered a passion and unique ability to develop innovative, user-friendly PLC based control systems.
In 2001, Mike left the plastics recycling industry to join a local industrial electrical firm, exploring the possibility of becoming a full-time controls engineer. In 2002, Live Automation, Inc. was formed, and Mike began building the company from the ground up. Over the years, Live Automation has evolved from a one-man operation to a full- service automation provider, supported by a team of loyal employees with diverse expertise. This reliable, skilled team allows Mike to focus on customer relations, business development, and larger project management.
Mike has been married to Nicole, his wife and business partner, for over 25 years—proving that finding the right partner is key both at home and at work. They have two sons and a daughter who constantly keep them on their toes. When he’s not tinkering with automation solutions, Mike can be found attempting to play guitar, collecting Toyota Land Cruisers, watching his kids' sporting and music events, and, most importantly, spending quality time with Nicole and the kids. He’s also been promising to work on his golf game for the last few years, but the clubs are still gathering dust in the garage.