Where Community Meets Craft: Michael’s Story

Early Career: From Cheerleading to Civil Design

Michael started his career a little differently than most people in the construction world—as a cheerleading and gymnastics coach. He studied mechanical engineering and business at the University of Kentucky, where he also cheered. After graduation, he began coaching for a local gym in nearby Georgetown and quickly moved into a director role in which he led a 20-person team, doubling their program’s reach. Those early years helped him build strong leadership and organizational skills, but he eventually realized it wasn’t the long-term career path for him.

Coaching might seem worlds away from civil design, but it laid the groundwork: teamwork, adaptability, and creative problem-solving. Around that same time, through a friend of a friend, Michael met Jim Gray—then serving as Lexington’s mayor. They stayed in touch over the years, connected by shared experiences in the LGBTQ+ community and a mutual passion for sustainability. That relationship, built on shared values, eventually helped open the door to his career in civil design.

Michael’s interview at Gray’s Lexington office sealed the deal. Up until that point, he had been working for a smaller firm and wasn’t sure if the world of engineering was where he belonged. But something sparked when he walked into the office, met the team, and witnessed firsthand how Gray combined exciting projects with a fun, collaborative culture. For the first time, he saw how he could imbue his full self into his career and do meaningful, impactful work every day.

Championing Creativity and Stewardship Through Design

You wouldn’t know it by the title, but a civil designer is inherently tied to environmental responsibility—and that’s part of what Michael loves about it. He tackles a variety of challenges ranging from project management and permitting to sustainable site design and innovative cost management. Michael’s role allows him to apply his passion for sustainability and his engineering background to design sites that maximize land potential, reduce environmental impact, and creatively manage costs.

Take utility coordination, for example: Michael and his team use historical data to understand stormwater runoff patterns, then apply that data to model efficient pipe systems. The goal is to build infrastructure that flushes out storm and facility runoff without flooding local communities or damaging ecosystems.

Michael also enjoys identifying savings opportunities through creative design. If he discovers extra soil on a project site, he strategizes how a team can use it in a creative and efficient way. Instead of hauling it away, his team might shape it into natural drainage wells that double as landscape features or use it to naturally filter water runoff before it reaches local streams. You may not necessarily expect cost and resource management to be connected to site sustainability and beautification, but that’s the magic of Michael’s skillset—it’s the linchpin that brings these important disciplines together.

Embracing Identity and Giving Back to His Community

When Michael’s not working to protect the environment, he uses his skills to give back to the community. One of his proudest moments at Gray was helping to raise over $210,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass (BBBS) through Emerging Leaders Group’s (ELG) annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event in 2024.

Through ELG, Michael has volunteered with BBBS, the ACE Mentor Program, and Children’s Advocacy Center. For him, being able to give his time to organizations like this keeps him balanced. “When the days get longer and busier” he says, “it helps to remember that a portion of the money Gray makes goes back into the community.”

Volunteering has always been a part of Michael’s life. He currently serves as Secretary for AVOL (Aids Volunteers of Lexington), a nonprofit that raised over $500,000 last year to support housing assistance, STI testing, and HIV/AIDS education and outreach across 115 counties—96% of Kentucky.

Rooted in Values, Built for Impact

Michael’s journey is a reminder that there’s no single path to success and that sometimes the best careers are built by blending passion, purpose, and authenticity. Whether he’s leading a project, mentoring youth, or advocating for his community, Michael brings his full self to everything he does. He proves that you don’t have to choose between being technical and being human—you can be both. And when you lead with values, great things follow.