Mike moved to Tampa in 2005 from Fairfax, Virginia where he was born and raised.  Mike first picked-up a guitar at age fourteen which was an undeniable necessity after hearing the opening riff of Dire Straits' Money for Nothing, which was quickly replaced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio, and one of Mike's personal-favorite guitar gods, George Lynch of Dokken.  Mike learned to play the guitar by practicing every day, but also from interaction with several highly successful professional musicians such as Ryan Newell of Sister Hazel fame, and most recently from the renowned Dan Leonard of the Washington, DC area, whose superb teaching skills helped Mike take his guitar playing to the "next level." Mike is a Director of Business Operations in the Defense Contracting Industry. He attended Radford University in Virginia from where he holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration degree. Mike's musical interests have changed slightly with the years as he tends to stay current. Through the eighties it was nothing but Metal. Through the nineties it was alternative. Popular music has always found its way into the mix as well. Other hobbies include an obsession with fine and classic automobiles. He has owned many domestic and imported vehicles of all types, as well as several motorcycles. He currently owns a '71 Big Block Corvette which will one day see local car shows when extra time is found to finish the restoration!  Mike is also an avid Philadelphia Eagles, NFL and Fantasy Football fan. Thank goodness for the Sunday Ticket. His favorite saying: "You either get busy living, or get busy dying!"