Small businesses seem to run on Michelle’s side of the family. Both sets of grandparents and her parents operated their own businesses, and Michelle has continued that tradition. After moving to Oak Ridge in 1980 and working as a finance officer at the government facilities in Oak Ridge for 6 years, Michelle co-founded Vacuum Technology, Inc. (VTI) and also formed Vacuum Technology Distribution, Inc. (VTD), a small, woman-owned distribution business that serviced government and corporate accounts. In 1991, Michelle along with business partners, George Solomon, Mark Boeckmann, and Ed Raby opened a third business to support the real estate transactions of VTI and VTD.

With degrees in Education and Accounting and her knowledge of small business operations, Michelle has been instrumental to VTI’s success by providing financial, accounting, and human resource expertise. Michelle balances her time between career and family and is involved in various community organizations.