Years worked at UDA: 18 years

Tell us a little about yourself:
Mike grew up in Minnesota on his family's farm, and helped with all the chores including milking cows.
He enlisted in the Marines when he was 18 and did 2 tours in Vietnam. While in Vietnam he was in charge of maintenance.
In 1967, he completed his time in the Marines and went to work at a dairy processing plant in Minnesota. He stayed with the company which was bought by Mid America Dairymen, and later Dairy Farmers of America for 27 years. He 'retired' in 2001 and moved to Arizona to work for UDA.
Mike and his wife Betty, have 5 children, 2 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.

What is your job at UDA?: Preventative Maintenance Tech

Have you worked any other positions at UDA?:
Mike has worked in many areas throughout the plant including production supervisor, sanitation supervisor, helped start up the cheese plant, and started the Preventative Maintenance program.

What part of your job do you like the most?:
The part of the job that Mike enjoys the most is solving problems. He often worries about the plant and cares about keeping things running efficiently.

What kinds of hobbies or interests do you have outside of work?:
Since 2012, Mike and his wife Betty have enjoyed bird watching and travel all over Arizona to see their favorite birds. Mike's favorite bird can be found in Payson near the Natural Bridge, the Cedar Wax Wing. The most unusual bird he's ever seen was the Trogan.

What is one thing about you that people may not know?
From 1980-1985, Mike ran in 13 marathons!