Michael was born in Miami but grew up in Spain where his family owned an African animal Safari Park.  He attended boarding school in Connecticut and then the University of California at Davis. After college, he worked in Washington, D.C. and then served in the US Navy as a Navigator on a ship supporting operations in the Balkans, Haiti and Persian Gulf. After the Navy, he worked in Central America where he was an agricultural commodities broker. He bought and imported avocados, limes and mangoes.
 
He first learned to sail during childhood summers spent on the coast of Maine at his grandparent’s cottage. He purchased his first sailboat when he was 28 years old and lived aboard the boat for 4 years in San Francisco during the late 1990’s.
 
He met his wife Amy while he was a passenger on an expedition ship traveling from Tahiti to Easter Island; she was one of the expedition leaders.  Amy grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska but is a fifth generation San Franciscan. She graduated from the University of Oregon. With a degree in Marine Biology, she made six voyages to Antarctica working with NOAA.
 
Michael and Amy married in 2000 and promptly set sail on a two-year honeymoon cruise with their 34’ sailboat.  Starting in California, they sailed back to Easter Island and eventually wintered over in Patagonia, Chile.  When their first child arrived, they moved to Portland, Oregon. They now have three children and have lived in Portland for 21 years. Between 2014 and 2016, they departed on another sailing voyage. They homeschooled their three young children aboard their 42’ sailboat while visiting 40 countries and sailing 26,000 miles.
 
Michael joined PYC in 2011, and he regularly sails and races on the Columbia River.  In addition to being on several committees, he had the previous honor of serving two years on the Board of Trustees. “The Portland Yacht Club has a splendid history and a bright future,” said Michael. “I look forward to being a part of it.”