Company Information

Michael has more than 25 years of experience directing as many as 225 employees in his company with revenues in excess of $125 million. Michael is a respected businessman and entrepreneur with eight successful business startups heading an impressive list of personal, civic, charitable, and professional accomplishments to his credit. As Principal Owner of I-3 Group, Inc., Michael has built one of the fastest growing distributors of contract office furniture in the world. Operating through seven subsidiary companies and seven mid-western locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Michigan, this organization has evolved from the attic of a modest home into a premier supplier to high profile Fortune 1000 companies with compounded annual sales growth exceeding thirty percent (30%). Michael has spent the past 20 years as Principal owner of Interior Investments, which was named in the 50 fastest growing companies in the Chicago Market, the Top 300 hundred privately held companies in Chicago, and recently was named in Inc Magazine's top 5000 privately held companies.

Michael has led these companies through creation, start-up, growth, establishment, and expansion. His understanding of what it takes to create and sustain an enduring and successful company is rare in today's world. Furthermore, he understands that true wealth and success come when you are able to give back to others what you have learned along the journey. Michael has mastered the art of enduring leadership and paying it forward.

Among his significant previous contributions in his community, Michael founded the "Dream and Believe Program" in 1998. He recognized a need in his community to support families that have suffered financial hardship because of medical emergencies. This worthy organization has adopted hundreds of families providing furniture, computer equipment, appliances, clothing and financial assistance over the years. Michael has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Illinois Special Olympics. Additionally, each year he chairs and hosts the Aeron Hockey Chair Tournament for the benefit of Illinois Special Olympics. He also works toward supporting Boys and Girls Club, and American Cancer Society through local chapters.

Michael began his pursuit of leadership development over 25 years ago. Working with undergraduates from all over the United States, he has conducted over 200 retreats across college campuses. Michael has remained grounded by helping others understand how they can grow, and transform into enduring leaders through his mentoring and superior leadership skills. His focus on helping students to become enduring leaders includes development of vision and purpose statements, understanding behavior social styles, creating high performance teams, learning how to collaborate with others effectively, creating strategic plans, implement strategic plans, and making a positive contribution to the community. One of Michael's philosophies is, "Dream about what you want to be or become, Dare to take purposeful risks and come out of your comfort zone, and then go ahead and Do it, not being afraid to fail and always looking to persevere," and that is exactly what he lives his life by.