Mick recalled that it was experiences early in his life that compelled him toward engineering and stimulated his desire to advance into the industry. During 1972's famously severe winter, he managed to take a different perspective on the endless amount of snow which had blanketed much of the nation: rather than simply viewing it as a frozen obstacle, he saw it as the building blocks of his design and turned snowdrifts longer than 10 feet into a six-room living space furnished with sleeping bunks and lighting! His ingenuity didn't stop there; he once managed to turn aged six-panel doors into tri-level tree-house forts.
Mick attended the University of Iowa, where he studied secondary math education. From there, he went on to the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he received his degree in electrical engineering. While in school, Mick was part of a fraternity, which gave him ample opportunity to participate in local charities and social events. School and a social life were not the only things that kept him occupied, though. Throughout college, he held between two and three jobs at any given time. He credits this early work experience with helping to shape his business, professional, and personal life. He said, "Getting to my current role leading Day & Zimmermann's engineering business was a process of managing more each passing day."
Among his most memorable career experiences, Mick counts his time in Torrejon, Spain, where he worked as part of an AFB relocation team. He also managed the design of a state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing facility. Of course, helping Day & Zimmermann's engineering and field services group reach its unprecedented and current industry-leading success has also been a paramount achievement. In spite of this impressive list of successes, Mick believes it is failure that has taught him the most. "Climbing up and out of something has always been rewarding and educational," he said.
Q. What do you do for fun?
A. Anything that makes me sweat—swimming, running, hiking, biking, kayaking, etc.
Q. What CD is in your CD player right now?
A. The Fray.
Q. What is the last magazine you read?
A. Men's Health.
Q. What is your favorite TV show?
A. Most anything on the Discovery Channel. (I am not much of a TV person.)
Q. Who is your role model?
A. My wife.
Several colleagues have helped shape Mick's career and perspective throughout the years. He is particularly grateful for those who allowed him to take on more than was probably wise for someone at his experience level at times in the past. He is thankful for their support and assistance in the moments when he sought to regain his professional footing.
For those hoping to emulate Mick's success as an engineer, his advice is as follows: "Pursue as much diversification and responsibility as your management team will permit. Be a sponge to all that goes on around you."
