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 carried on with that tradition. After having moved to Oak Ridge in 1980 and working as an accountant at the government facilities in Oak Ridge for 6 years, Michelle formed Vacuum Technology Distribution, Inc. (VTD), a small, woman-owned distribution business to service government and corporate accounts.  Working in conjunction with Vacuum Technology Inc. (VTI), Michelle has been instrumental to the success of both companies by providing financial, accounting, and human relations expertise.  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 grown her companies by providing the utmost in customer service, products at reasonable prices, and on-time delivery. Both commercial and government accounts find the same prompt, high-quality service that VTI and VTD provide to all their customers.  Michelle balances her time between career and family and is involved in various community organizations.